Companies throughout Michigan are trying to determine whether or not they should make vaccines for the Coronavirus mandatory. Recently, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission determined that it would not be illegal for companies to require vaccination. The EEOC also says it’s perfectly legal for companies to offer incentives for employees to get vaccinated.
While perfectly legal, some of Michigan’s largest corporations have decided to take another route.
“We highly encourage employees to get vaccinated. However, the company does not plan to require employees to be vaccinated,” said GM Media relations executive Daniel Flores. She continued by saying, “ GM has and will continue to partner with health systems, local health departments, and national pharmacies to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to employees. GM sites across the U.S. have hosted clinics or facilitated employee access to mass vaccination operations run by local health departments. While we’re pleased with our progress, we’re focused on promoting additional vaccination opportunities.
There is no cost to employees for receiving the vaccine, assuming they get the shot at a GM facility or are enrolled in a GM healthcare plan. GM also recommends that employees register for the vaccine through all possible avenues, such as local health departments, pharmacies and health providers.
Michigan automotive companies seem to be onboard with providing access to vaccination sites that make it easier for employees to get the vaccine, but none of them have gone full throttle on mandating the Coronavirus vaccine.
“To help facilitate easy access to the vaccines, Stellantis (the company the merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group years ago) has been administering vaccinations through its near-site healthcare clinics in Detroit, Belvidere, Ill., and Kokomo, Ind., for several months. In addition, we have partnered with union halls to host vaccine clinics and have also offered them onsite at several locations,” said Fiat Chrysler Managing and Labor Communication representative Jodi Tinson.
Employees of some of Detroit’s largest automobile employers appreciate their employers giving them a choice in the matter while making it easier for them to get the vaccine if and when they choose.
“I think that’s really against your freedom, to tell employees that they can’t come to work because they don’t want the Covid vaccine. Chrysler is leaving it to our own discretion and I think that’s fair. If we want the vaccine, they have made it easily accessible to us at multiple clinics and locations. It’s also free for us so we don’t have to worry about any additional cost coming out of our pocket. Right now, I’ve decided to wait on getting vaccinated. ” said Chrysler team member, at the Detroit Warren Stamping Plant, Lanashka Bryant.
Detroit Assembly Plant materials handler, Darwin Cegers said his experience getting vaccinated through Chrysler’s clinics was smooth. He was surprised at how many appointments were available given the number of employees Chrysler plants have.
“It’s very little people getting the vaccine in the plant, so many appointments were available that it’s telling me that more people could be getting vaccinated. It’s a simple process, you go through the email system, sign up and they email you an appointment confirmation that you’ve selected. When my time came, I went into the facility at Local 7 Union hall that we share with Local 51. When you walk in, you fill out some paperwork. If you have any questions, they’ll talk to you and let you know what you can expect from the vaccine. They go over all the potential side effects. I took the Moderna vaccine. After you take it, they have you wait 15 minutes to see if something strange happens after the shot. They emailed me in 28 days to alert me that it’s time for the second shot at the same location,” said Cegers.
For companies that are requiring the vaccine, there are still precautions that must be followed. Exemptions for employees with disabilities or specific religious beliefs are in place to provide protection for these specific groups. It’s a loophole that will shield groups from experiencing adverse consequences should their employers mandate the Coronavirus vaccine at some point in time.
Many corporations believe the repercussions of mandating the vaccine are simply not worth the risk. While the EEOC says it’s legal for companies to do so, some employers and employment attorneys feel lawsuits can still arise in certain cases despite the EEOC’s stance.
Specifically, in cases where an employee suffers an adverse reaction to the vaccine their employer required for them to continue working.
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