To Mandate or Not Mandate Vaccination – What Are U.S. Employers Thinking?

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Employers carry a burden knowing workplace policies will impact their workers’ lives. They need to make sure their businesses are sustainable and their employees are safe.  As a result, the question on many employers’ minds is “should I require workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccination?” 

Data from a recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey indicated that 55% of employers said they were uncertain about whether they will require vaccinations for employees, but 81% said they will strongly encourage their employees to get vaccinated.

Even though there is a large discrepancy between encouraging vaccination and requiring it among employers, 76% of workers are willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine if required by their employer.  Guidance from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has made it clear that employers are well within their rights to mandate employee vaccination.

While making this decision may not be easy, it is clear that employees see employers as factors in their decision-making regarding their wellness.  What employers do and say matters more than ever due to the effect on individuals beyond their professional lives.