Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: COVID-19 Vaccines in the Workplace – Post-FDA Approval Update

Now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval of the Pfizer vaccine, employers are more willing to consider requiring proof of vaccination before allowing employees back into the worksite. Large employers and government entities are leading the way in this shift in thinking.

We conducted a poll during a webcast on August 26 to get an updated perspective of employers thinking about requiring proof of vaccination from their employees. We compare these results against responses taken from the same poll taken in February and April 2021. The results are in the chart below.

Key Findings
The additional time since the last poll, the emergence of virus variants, and full FDA authorization have allowed employers to define their position more clearly.

While employers can encourage and mandate vaccinations before a return to the workplace, it remains critical to review several considerations including:

• exceptions for those with disabilities or religious beliefs
• a business need
• impact on company culture
• any collective bargaining issues
• state laws
• administrative effort to track vaccination status

We encourage companies to consult with counsel before enacting any mandate.

Should you have any questions regarding any of this information, please contact your local Assurex Global adviser