Hoffman Quoted in The Wall Street Journal About Whether Employers Can Require Employees to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine
September 18, 2020
The Wall Street Journal
Partner Carrie Hoffman was quoted in The Wall Street Journal article, “Can an Employer Require You to Get a Covid-19 Vaccine?” which examined whether private businesses can require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when the vaccinations are available.
Hoffman, a labor and employment lawyer, told the WSJ that a vaccine requirement may be lawful but impractical, especially for larger companies. “It’s going to be a tough call for a lot of employers,” Hoffman said.
She says it could be time-consuming and costly for a company’s human resources to sort out individual opt-out requests. A company that mandates vaccines could also face a gross negligence suit or have to pay out a workers’ compensation claim if an inoculated employee has a severe reaction. On the flip side, it is unlikely that a company would be held legally responsible for not requiring vaccinations if no law were violated. “I don’t see how an employer would be liable for not mandating a vaccine,” she said.
Because of those complications, companies have more incentive to encourage, facilitate and subsidize vaccinations to help curb the spread of disease, she added.
People
Related News
August 19, 2025
In the News
Gustavo Resendiz Featured in Q&A on Secondary Market Momentum – 'Investors want liquidity'
Foley & Lardner LLP partner Gustavo Resendiz is featured in the Crunchbase News Q&A, "Why Secondary Funds Still Can’t Keep Up With Investor Demand," lending insight into the accelerating investor momentum towards secondary transactions.
August 18, 2025
In the News
David Simon Coauthors Piece on Empowering Lawyers as Strategic Business Partners
Foley & Lardner LLP partner David Simon coauthored The Agenda article, "Turn Your Corporate Lawyer into a Strategic Weapon," published by Financial Times.
August 15, 2025
In the News
Gregory Husisian on Voluntary Disclosures to Customs – 'Importing has never been riskier'
Foley & Lardner LLP partner Gregory Husisian authored the SupplyChainBrain article, "Best Practices for Making Voluntary Disclosures to Customs," sharing insight on this vital strategy for companies looking to mitigate risk from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.