Can employers mandate staff be immunized?

The Chamber supports BC’s immunization efforts and we believe the evidence shows COVID-19 vaccinations offer our best chance to put the pandemic behind us.

However, mandating vaccination for BC employers requires taking care to ensure human rights are respected. Unlike the US, where the Department of Justice has opined that employers can require employees be vaccinated, BC’s Human Rights Commission has issued general advice for treating people differently based on their vaccination status.

Essentially, the commission says workplaces must balance the need to be safe with avoiding discrimination against people who have adequate alternative means for preventing COVID-19 transmission.

The lack of clarity means the issue will be front and centre with HR departments for the foreseeable future.