As COVID-19 Vaccine Nears, Employers Consider Making It Mandatory

Just a few months into the coronavirus pandemic, Holly Smith had already made up her mind. She was not going to reopen her restaurant to diners until there was a vaccine. She just didn't think it was safe. When she shared the decision with her staff, they asked: Would the vaccine be mandatory? Yes, she said. It would be. 'I'm not going to open until I can indeed be sure that everyone on my staff is vaccinated,' says Smith, chef and owner of Cafe Juanita in Kirkland, Wash. 'The immediate people on the team — you've got to take care of them. If you don't take care of them, they cannot help you take care of business.'