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Almost Half of Organizations Will Institute Vaccine Mandates Says Gartner Study

Almost Half of Organizations Will Institute Vaccine Mandates, Says Gartner Study

Sept. 27, 2021
"The new federal guidance, as well as the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta wave, have combined to shift executive opinion on vaccine mandates significantly since the beginning of the year.”

Almost half ( 46%) of organizations now plan to institute a vaccine mandate where legally permissible, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc.

On September 15, 2021, Gartner polled 272 legal, compliance and HR executives following new federal guidance on vaccine mandates for health workers and updated OSHA regulations on vaccine and testing requirements for employees.

“The new federal guidance, as well as the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta wave, have combined to shift executive opinion on vaccine mandates significantly since the beginning of the year,” said Chris Audet, senior director, research, in the Gartner Legal & Compliance practice. “It is likely that we will see a clear majority of firms instituting mandates of some kind by the end of the year, considering that 36% of respondents are still unsure of their organization’s plans.”

The new survey data on vaccine mandates showed that only 17% of survey respondents reported that they will not require vaccine mandates 

“The latest federal guidance gives private-sector employers the ability to shift the responsibility for requiring vaccination from the organization to the government,” said Brian Kropp, chief of research in the Gartner HR practice. “This shift in responsibility makes it easier for companies to implement a vaccine mandate.”

No Consensus on Testing Strategy

There is little consensus among executives on how their organizations will address remaining unvaccinated employees and the details of specific testing strategies. Fifteen percent of executives said their organizations will terminate non-compliant employees, with organizations split on whether they will administer some form of on-site testing, utilize third-party testing services, or require employees to be responsible for their own testing.

The polling data also revealed significant concerns among executives about the consequences of new mandates, even as they move towards implementing the policies in greater numbers. Sixty-nine percent of respondents feared a vaccine mandate will spur employee turnover due to resignations or terminations.

Additionally, more than half of respondents feared the impact on company culture and employee morale, and they had general concerns about managing employees who refused the vaccine without an approved exemption.

“While organizational leaders feel more confident in setting vaccine and testing policies in light of new developments, much of their original hesitancy about the drawbacks of such policies remain,” said Audet. “Legal and compliance leaders will need to think through the implications of assuming responsibility for employee health data with related administrative work, along with policies to limit confrontation and disruptions related to non-compliant employees.”

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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