Workplace Vaccine Policy
The HR world is tricky to navigate and when we can help our clients while helping the California business community in general on such an important topic, we will.
San Diego, California (PRWEB) April 13, 2015
The recent measles outbreak at Disneyland has California employers asking questions about workplace vaccine policy. Specifically, can a company create a vaccine policy requiring employees to be vaccinated? The short answer is yes, but there are many technicalities involved. The complexity of the issue has Avitus Group stepping up to launch an online workplace vaccine policy Q & A forum designed to clear up the confusion. The forum launched in April and includes answers to top workplace vaccine policy questions. Employers also have the option to submit additional questions to the HR experts at Avitus Group.
“Vaccine policy is certainly a hot button issue right now for California employers. The HR world is tricky to navigate, and when we can help our clients while helping the California business community in general on such an important topic, we will,” says Avitus Group Director of Human Resources & Risk Management Cynthia Hancock.
The number one question employers ask regarding vaccine policy is, "Do employers have the legal authority to require employees to get vaccinated for measles or other diseases like the flu?" Legal experts have weighed in on the topic and say businesses can require employees, with certain exceptions, to be vaccinated. They also say there needs to be a strong justification for requiring the vaccination. “For example, health care systems and hospitals have an easy time justifying their mandatory vaccination policy since many employees encounter sick patients who are more vulnerable to infection than other people,” says Hancock. “In fact, several states require that health care workers receive annual flu vaccinations.” According to the Johns Hopkins medical organizations, some 226,000 people are hospitalized each year with the flu, and 16%, or 36,000 of them die from it.
Avitus Group’s online Workplace Vaccine Policy Q & A Forum addresses the following top four questions asked by employers.
1. Can you require employee vaccines?
2. Can an employee reject the vaccine policy? If so, what are the grounds for rejection?
3. What are the verification standards if an employee refuses the vaccine based on religious exceptions, etc.?
4. Can employers instate creative thinking to make a workplace environment safe for everyone, even when some employees are not vaccinated and are legally not required to receive the vaccination?
Avitus Group serves clients nationwide through regional offices from coast to coast. The company also serves international clients through partner locations in Europe, Canada, China, England, India, Japan and Singapore. Avitus Group helps other companies simplify, strengthen and grow by handling burdensome, yet necessary administrative tasks including payroll, bookkeeping, taxes, IT, and more. When these items become Avitus Group's responsibility, the business owner can focus on what they do best.