In an Alight survey, taken August 31, 2021, just 14% of responding employers were mandating vaccines, and 88% reported that they’re educating employees about vaccines, why they are important, and where they can get vaccinated. Only a few days after the survey closed, the White House announced its new vaccine mandate policy — exhibiting just how quickly things are changing today.
In light of the president’s announcement, if employees refuse to comply with the new vaccine policies, the employer may be in the difficult position of either adhering to the mandate and terminating those employees or deviating from the mandate for certain employees, increasing the risk of discrimination claims. Employers will also need to account for workers who cannot get the vaccine for medical or sincerely held religious reasons.
Employers will need to find a tool that not only tracks vaccinated employee populations but adapts to changing requirements — like booster shots and testing mandates — and allows for easy onboarding for new employees. The right tool will help you think strategically to spot risks where you need to act to be more resilient. When tracking new employee population data like vaccination status, digitizing the information and integrating it with your existing systems will be key.