COVID-19 Vaccinations

Can You Require Workers to Get the COVID-19 Vaccination?

Yes, a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy is legally justifiable as long as:  it’s a necessary health and safety measure for the particular workplace;  it’s no more intrusive than it has to be;  it doesn’t violate the contractual or collective agreement rights of employees; and it doesn’t discriminate on the basis of religion, disability or other grounds protected by human rights laws.

Download OHS Insider's COVID-19 Vaccinations report and get access to updated policies for your 2021 workplace, as well as a 14-day trial to OHS Insider, where you can download hundreds of compliant policy templates  for your 2021 audit.

OHS Compliance: Vaccination Report

Even though the COVID situation is new and unprecedented, we can still discern the boundaries with regard to employers’ rights to demand that workers get vaccinated. Specifically, we know that courts and arbitrators have historically upheld mandatory flu vaccination policies (as well as their slightly less restrictive cousin, the vaccination-or-mask policy requiring all employees to either get vaccinated or wear a mask during flu season) as a legitimate workplace health and safety measure. This consensus is based on 3 undisputable facts that pertain to COVID now that Health Canada has approved a vaccine for the virus.

Fact 1: While OHS laws don’t specifically address flu or flu vaccinations, they do require employers to take measures “reasonable in the circumstances” to protect workers from hazards;

Want a preview of what you'll get in the report?
 Download this reduced size report without sharing any information.

About OHS Insider

OHS Insider is your one-stop for expert legal advice, easy-to-implement tools, compliant policies, training, documentation and more.

For less than $15/week you get a team of employment lawyers, OHS consultants, and trainers with compliant guidance and resources to ensure you are never caught on the wrong end of a workplace safety issue.

Access our team of expert EHS & OHS lawyers and consultants with your most complicated workplace safety compliance questions and get practical real-world solutions that you can implement today!

OHS Insider has everything you need at your fingertips, 24-7, 365 days/year. It is intuitive and accessible on any device. All your answers to your organization's most complicated and mission-critical questions are at your beck and call. 

OHS Insider users report saving up to 180 hours per year on their OHS work because of OHS Insider’s ready-to-use resources. Relocate that time into high-priority assignments, bottom-line driving initiatives, safety culture building activities and more! 

COVID Vaccination Report
GET THE REPORT NOW

OHS Insider | 2021

SPREAD THE WORD

All trials adhere to our terms & conditions after the 14 day free period.

Fact 2: When a worker gets the flu, it poses a hazard to not just co-workers but everybody in the workplace, including customers, patients, guests, etc.; and

Fact 3: Flu vaccinations have been proven to be safe and effective in preventing the flu.