Mandatory Vaccinations In The Workplace

One of the most common questions employers are asking at this point in time during the pandemic is this: "Can we require our employees to be vaccinated before allowing them to return to work?" The answer has been this: "it depends", followed by an explanation of human rights' considerations, privacy considerations, health and safety considerations, etc. On August 13, 2021, the federal government made an announcement that suggests the pendulum might be swinging towards a "yes" on that question. On August 17, 2021, the provincial government made an announcement that suggests the same swing.

What were the announcements?

On August 13, 2021, the Government of Canada issued a press release informing the public of its intention to require employees in the federal public service to be vaccinated as early as the end of September, 2021. Accommodations will be available for those who are not able to get vaccinated (e.g. rapid testing and screening).