You can tell by the number of blog posts in your inbox that vaccine-related topics are all the rage right now. We covered mandatory vaccination policies, exemptions, and the accommodation process already. Today, I wanted to share an article by Stephanie Vozza at Fast Company that featured some of my advice on how to ask coworkers, employees and customers about their vaccination status. Here are some practical pointers, which are more fully detailed in the article:
- Different laws apply dependent on who is asking and who will be answering. Check state laws as things are rapidly changing.
- Conversations between co-workers can be awkward, so focus on the safety component rather than politics.
- Employers can mandate vaccines and can ask employees to prove their vaccination status, subject to religious and medical exemptions but inquiries should be handled through HR or a trained selection of managers.