By Smita Patil, Gusto contributing blog author
As states ramp up COVID-19 vaccine distribution, we appear to be getting closer to returning to the workplace. However, as an employer, you may be left wondering how to safely re-open your office while protecting your employees. You may be considering mandating COVID vaccinations before a return to in-person work. If so, you are not alone–a survey conducted by a national employment law firm found that 43% of employers are also considering this option.
Further, some of your employees may be concerned about returning to work if other employees are unvaccinated. The decision to require employees to receive the COVID vaccines is challenging from both a legal and business standpoint. Luckily, there are guidelines you can follow to safely and effectively re-open your workplace. It is always a good idea to consult with an attorney or an HR professional to help determine what your business may or may not do. Ultimately, it will largely depend on your specific situation.
Can I legally require my employees to get the COVID vaccine before returning to work? Click here for the answer on the Gusto blog!
DID YOU KNOW?
You Can Claim Employer Tax Credits by Providing Paid Leave to Employees for COVID-19 Vaccinations
President Biden made headlines when he announced that tax credits will be offered to employers who provide time off to their employees to a) get the COVID-19 vaccine, or b) to employees who are experiencing side effects from the vaccine. This is an expansion of the paid leave tax credits that exist under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA). Gusto gets into who is eligible for the tax credit, how to claim the tax credit and what to do if you don’t have the funds to cover this PTO in this blog.