11 questions to ask your boss on the first day of working remotely

Posted by Kazuyoshi Sanwa on September 14th, 2021

With the politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines have become lightning rods. Add the idea of ??COVID-19 vaccine authorization to the mix and you can create lightning itself. This controversy affects everyone, but its impact on employers is unique.

There are many historical precedents for mandatory vaccination in the workforce; in 1777, George Washington asked Continental Army soldiers to be vaccinated with smallpox, which was our country’s first vaccine mission. Although I believed wholeheartedly in the safety and effectiveness of vaccines from the beginning, I still struggled with the idea of ??forcing any of my employees to vaccinate before getting FDA approval. Like many other employers, I am not entirely confident in making this decision.

In other words, my company-a healthcare platform-is lucky. We decided to prioritize transparency and encourage employees to be vaccinated. Even before the FDA took action, we were able to achieve a 100% vaccination rate for our employees.

Now that Pfizer vaccine has been approved by the FDA, we have established an authorization for all new employees. I can say with confidence that this is the right move. We are not alone: ??Tyson Foods has formulated vaccine regulations since August 3, but it has not stopped there. They also encourage vaccinated employees to have 20 hours of paid sick leave each year. Now is the time for all companies to follow their own vaccine regulations. why is that.

While owning rights, they are also given great responsibilities

Part of the reason for making such a difficult decision before FDA approval was the politicization of vaccines. Those who worry about vaccines are politically motivated oppose any form of authorization, especially authorization from the federal government. Trust in the government is low, and divisions are rampant. In fact, the federal government has almost no power to compulsory vaccination. The real decision-making power is left to the states and localities, all of which have adopted different approaches. The authorization issued by Biden last Thursday was limited to government employees and federal contractors in the executive branch.

Ultimately, the real influence comes from public figures outside the government, who have a certain influence on their fans and followers. Take Ariana Grande or Olivia Rodrigo as examples. They use their platforms to encourage vaccination. Although their followers may not believe what they hear from politicians, many people believe in these celebrities and are more likely to follow their leadership.

However, this influence does not only come from celebrities and athletes. Business leaders also have the ability—and the responsibility—to bring about change. They need to do everything they can to ensure the safety of their employees, customers, and communities.

Why now is the time

Although companies have been hesitant to perform their tasks so far, they should feel the need to take action. In addition to the FDA approval that supports Pfizer\'s vaccine safety, patients and medical professionals are struggling. A friend of mine who works in the ICU said that she hopes that people who have not been vaccinated can walk in her shoes for a day to see the terrible reality of COVID-19 infection. She believes that people who have really weighed the risk of complications from COVID-19 and minor side effects of the vaccine will choose the vaccine every time.

I agree with this. In fact, medical staff everywhere are seeing patients fighting for their lives, and if they survive, they will have to deal with hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more) in astronomical medical expenses. If these fees are not paid, they will gradually flow to taxpayers. Insurance premiums may increase, and people get even less benefit from their insurance plans. Companies like Delta Air Lines are taking action to solve this problem. If airline employees are not vaccinated before November 1, they will have to pay an additional 0 per month to continue participating in their health insurance plan. The financial risks faced by companies when employees are not vaccinated are real, and such measures provide companies with a way to encourage better choices.

Mandatory vaccination or imposing such penalties can also be a recruitment tool. Although some companies wish to avoid alienating potential applicants, they may not have considered applicants who would not join the vaccinated team. When vaccinations are needed, companies can provide potential employees with more security while protecting everyone from COVID-19.

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Laying the foundation for vaccine authorization

Before performing tasks, the most effective way any business leader can use to support employees is to lead by example. In our company\'s case, our executive team purposefully expressed our excitement about obtaining the vaccine. We informed the team whether we are eligible for the vaccine, and we are open to our health experience after vaccination.

We encourage employees to make appointments during working hours, and we allow them to stay at home without asking them if they have side effects. As a healthcare company, we are fortunate to have doctors and other healthcare workers join our team, who can answer any questions from colleagues.

For companies that have not yet performed their tasks but are considering doing them, we have cultivated a culture and environment that focuses on COVID-19 safety and encourages vaccination in the following ways:

We have developed a mask directive, which makes COVID-19 safety a top consideration.

The company keeps everyone informed about COVID-19 at all times.

We require testing every two weeks and provide proof of negative results for employees who want to return to the office without being vaccinated.

If people have concerns about vaccination, we will make sure they feel able and welcome to share those concerns without judgment.

By paying less attention to what employees need to do and paying more attention to what will happen if they do not take preventive measures, we shift the focus from vaccines to people affected by COVID-19.

In the end, we adopted an approach that combines transparency while encouraging everyone to move towards the same goal.

For businesses and leaders who are trying to bring employees back during COVID-19 while ensuring the safety of workers and surrounding communities, the most important thing to remember is that this is not always about us. We all have personal freedom, but we do not have the freedom to put others at risk. After all, this virus affects everyone. All of us should embrace change and create a safer world.