Joel Libava
Important Update On Vaccine Mandates
Please read the important announcement below, which was released well after the article I wrote.
“The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work. OSHA will issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to implement this requirement. This requirement will impact over 80 million workers in private sector businesses with 100+ employees. Companies must ensure either that their workers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or that they test negative for the coronavirus at least once a week“.
Note: Unvaccinated workers must also wear face coverings while on the job. This requirement goes into effect Dec. 5.
Franchisees With 100 Or More Employees Must Follow This Mandate
In this post, I’m going to share my thoughts on vaccine mandates for franchisees, and if franchisees should* require vaccinations of all their employees. *Note: vaccines are now required for franchisees with 100 or more employees.
Should you have vaccination requirements-along with proof of vaccination if you own a franchise? I say yes, and it’s not an option. Especially if you want to beef up your chances of being in business this time next year. The Delta Variant is serious, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has weighed in. Read on.
To be blunt, if you think Covid-19 is a hoax, or if you believe it exists, but you think you’ll be “just fine” if you get the virus, you may want to switch the flavor of the Kool-Aid you’ve been drinking…because it may kill you.
“You’re so dramatic, Joel.”
Really?
Dramatic?
Maybe you should watch this:
COVID-19 has a sound.
Please pass it on… https://t.co/7nnUcuWJ13
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) August 26, 2021
Vaccine Mandates For Franchisees: If You Own A Franchise, How Bad Do You Want To Stay In Business?
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane.
For starters, do you remember when you first started looking into becoming the owner of a franchise business? How excited you were to “the possibilities?”
For example, didn’t it feel great to not have to send in resumes and go on job interviews that were a complete waste of your time?
Furthermore, do you remember when you finally found a franchise opportunity that made sense to you?
How did it feel?
Better yet, how did you feel when you visited franchise headquarters and were able to validate that you were looking at the right franchise for you?
Nice.
Wait…do you happen to remember how nervous you were when you wrote your check for the franchise fee and signed your franchise agreement? I hope so.
Finally, can you recapture the amazing feelings you had on the day of your Grand Opening?
Good. I want you to remember it all. Why?
Because if you don’t do what needs to be done…and soon, you can kiss your franchise business goodbye.
“It’s incredible that we are in the current situation, but history has shown us what pandemics can do to economic stability. The 1918 pandemic preceding the Great Depression by 9 years is no coincidence. The more people we can protect, keep from disability stemming from Long COVID, and keep alive the better off we all will be.“
– Dr. Ebony Hilton, Anesthesiologist and Critical Care Physician at the University of Virginia, Medical Director, Goodstock Consulting
Update: Vaccine Mandates Have Started
On September 8th, President Biden announced a series of vaccine mandates for health workers, federal workers and businesses with over 100 employees. Here are the details of the vaccination requirements
Get Help Confronting COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation
If you’re looking for a way to confront all of the misinformation being published and discussed online and on TV and radio, check this out. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has issued an Advisory, “Confronting Health Misinformation” about the urgent threat of health misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. This advisory includes a plethora of factual, scientific information and data about the Covid-19 vaccines. Get the real COVID-19 Vaccine facts here
Should You Require Vaccinations If You Own A Franchise? Yes. Do It Now!
Be forewarned; it’s going to take courage to get all of your employees fully vaccinated.
Almost as much courage as when you told the franchise representative at headquarters you were ready to move forward and buy the franchise. Here goes.
I want you to call your Franchise Attorney (the one you used when you bought your franchise business) and ask him if he would be kind enough to draw up a simple one- page document stating the following:
Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccination’s Required For All Employees
Effective immediately, all employees must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19.
This means that all employees will need to show proof of vaccination before they’re permitted to work at this place of business.
Etc. Etc.
Hey…I’m not an attorney, but you get the gist.
To that end, I’m pretty confident your attorney will provide the proper words needed to make this mandatory vaccine document legal. Especially since the EEOC has written an update on the topic of employer vaccine mandates.
On Mandatory Vaccine “Passports”
This says it all…
Imagine getting angry over something that already exists. #VaccinePassport pic.twitter.com/gLdbgdS9Md
— 👩🏻🦰 (@RedHeadedScot) August 4, 2021
Can Businesses Require Vaccinations?
In this case, can franchise business owners require their employees to get fully vaccinated with the Covid vaccine?
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, businesses can require vaccinations. And some companies, like Google, The Washington Post, United Airlines, Tyson Foods and others just did (as of August 7, 2021).
From The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
“Employers can legally require COVID-19 vaccination for employees to re-enter the workplace and can provide incentives to encourage employees to get a shot. Here are the specifics.
Radio Interview: Vaccine Mandates: Should Franchisees Require Vaccinations?
It’s been established by law that employers can legally require vaccination. Should they? How does this translate to franchisors?
In this radio interview, Small Business expert, Barry Moltz, asks me about potential vaccine mandates and franchising. (Listen to segment #2 at around 18:25)
Update: More Information For Franchisees On The Legalities Of Vaccine Mandates
Update: According to President Biden, the Justice Department says private employers can require employee vaccinations (July 29, 2021).
“Before you issue your mandate, though, it is important to remember a couple things,” says attorney Christopher Ernst, the Entrepreneurial General Counsel. “First off, not everyone can receive the vaccine. For instance, the Center for Disease Control notes that research has not yet been completed for people who are immunocompromised or have auto-immune issues. As such, the safety and efficacy of the vaccines for this people is up in the air. To mandate vaccines for someone who has a medical issue could backfire. Secondly, some people have religious issues with vaccines. To force them to be vaccinated could be a restriction on their freedom of religion.” As Ernst notes in his article Mandatory COVID Vaccinations?, you want to be careful that you don’t inadvertently violate the ADA or Title VII.
Look. I know you’re worried about some of the legal ramifications of a mandatory vaccine requirement, and potentially losing employees, getting bad press, and probably a few other things. Like the fact that you can barely even find employees these days. I understand. But you know what I’m worried about? Read the next section to find out.
“My father, a Vietnam War pilot, used to tell me that the only really bad decisions are the ones you stick to even when you get facts that support a change in the mission.“
– Harris Faulkner
On Death, Potential Permanent Health Problems, And The Loss Of Your Franchise Business
I’m worried that if your employees aren’t fully vaccinated, they’ll spread this virus to your customers. And you should be worried, too. Especially if you get updates from the Centers For Disease Control (CDC).
Your customers could die.
Or they could get sick and potentially have permanent organ damage.
But for sure, they can (and will) spread this Covid-19 Delta variant virus to others.
Do You Remember When Everything Spiraled Out Of Control?
If things continue going like they are now (August, 2021), we’re going to have a repeat of last winter (2020). That would suck. Especially since we have several vaccines that have been proven to work.
Do you remember how many people died?
Or how many businesses had to reduce their hours…or close their doors permanently?
My question to you is this: can your business survive another massive outbreak of this virus?
Seriously, are you prepared to lose your franchise business? Your livelihood?
Are you at all worried about that? I am.
Lastly, will you do me a favor?
I want you to take your political hat off and watch this video from MSNBC.
And please. I don’t care if you hate MSNBC, like MSNBC, or you “never watch the news.”
Please watch the video below and see what physicians are saying in real-time.
Because your business and your life may depend on it.
One More Thing
Please use the buttons below to share this post on your social networks and with anyone you know who owns a franchise or is involved in franchising. Why?
So you can do business this year, next year, and beyond.
Remember: the only way to get control of Covid-19 and the Delta Variant is to get our vaccinations rates as close to 100% as possible. That’s why the new vaccine mandates will change everything.
Reminder: The Centers For Disease Control Provides Real-Time Updates On The Virus And Vaccination Status In The U.S.
Note: When you buy through links on this website, we may earn an affiliate commission. In addition, I've started to use AI to help me craft better article titles and headings.
