As the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to drive up the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, the federal government, some states and other levels of government around the U.S. are reinstituting restrictions (masking, social distancing). Some are even requiring employees and contractors to be vaccinated or face frequent testing or possible dismissal.
A number of major corporations have followed suit. Major companies including Tyson Foods, Amtrak, Disney, Google, Facebook, United Airlines, and Uber are requiring employees to be vaccinated. Others are requiring new hires to be vaccinated, and some say employees who wish to work in corporate offices instead of from home must be vaccinated or wear masks and face frequent testing.
And, the federal government’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says companies are well within their rights to make such requirements unless an employee cannot be vaccinated because of health-related issues or religious beliefs.
Now, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration giving its full approval to the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for people age 16 and older, it’s expected more companies, governments, and especially schools will mandate their employees be vaccinated.
We have yet to hear of any trucking companies requiring employees — and especially drivers — to be vaccinated or face masking/testing requirements or possible dismissal. However, the possibility looms.
What will you do if the company you driver for says, “Get vaccination or get fired?” Take our poll.