Nearly two-thirds of small- and medium-sized Canadian businesses are planning to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for their employees, finds a recent KPMG in Canada survey

Employers need to balance health and safety legal duties with employee's privacy and human rights protections

TORONTO, Aug. 19, 2021 /CNW/ - As many employers gear up to return employees to the workplace, 62 per cent of Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses are making or plan to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for their employees, finds a new poll by KPMG in Canada.

"Businesses are grappling with how to navigate the issue of mandatory vaccination and determine whether or not they are legally permitted to require their employees and, in some cases, their customers, to provide proof of vaccination," says Norm Keith, Partner, Employment and Labour Law, KPMG Law LLP, and a leading advisor in Canadian safety law. "Our poll found a wide consensus among employers that vaccination is the most effective way to protect workers and customers and key to avoiding a new wave of infections and lockdowns."

The KPMG poll also found that the vast majority of businesses support mandatory vaccinations and vaccine passports to avoid another lock down.

"With so many different approaches across the country, Canadian companies are seeking legal guidance and advice on vaccination policies for their workplaces," says Mr. Keith. "While some workplaces have taken steps to make proof of vaccination mandatory, others feel that unless mandated by government, it may be too onerous for them to make it a condition of continued employment. Overall, employers need to balance their health and safety legal duties with an employee's privacy interests and human rights law protections."

When implementing a mandatory proof of vaccination policy, a key legal consideration for employers is the actual safety risks in their workplace, particularly where there is close contact with co-workers or vulnerable people. As well, some workplaces are a higher safety risk, such as health care or long-term care for the elderly, education, childcare and emergency services.

Key Poll findings:

• 62 per cent are implementing or plan to implement mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for employees
• 84 per cent agree that vaccines are key to avoiding another lockdown and should be mandatory
• 84 per cent support vaccine passports to perform certain jobs or enter certain places
• 85 per cent of male respondents support vaccine passports vs. 79 per cent of women; Support for mandatory vaccination was also slightly higher among men (85 per cent) vs. women (81 per cent)
• 90 per cent feel they are well-prepared and organized in bringing employees back to the workplace safely

Workplace vaccine policies recommended

As Mr. Keith points out, a challenging situation may arise when an existing employee is unwilling to vaccinate or provide proof of their vaccination status. Employers have legal duties and responsibilities and, depending on their specific circumstances, need to exercise reasonableness to avoid constructive dismissal claims. Here are some key considerations for employers:  

• Employers have a legal obligation to keep workers safe;
• Recognize and accommodate exemptions based on disability and religious beliefs protected by human rights law and the duty to accommodate;
• Assess whether alternative measures such as rapid testing, social distancing, and minimizing time worked in close proximity to others should be considered;
• Know that workers also have a legal duty to not work in a manner that may endanger others
• Protect the confidentiality of employee vaccination data;
• Be flexible, listen to employee concerns, and enlist workplace joint health and safety committees in developing and implementing policies.

"In general, we recommend that employers receive legal advice when putting in place any COVID-19 safety measures to reduce a wide range of risks. This includes implementation of a vaccination policy that clearly communicates employer commitments and expectations for employee safety."

About the KPMG Business Outlook Poll
KPMG polled 505 Canadian small- and medium-sized owners and decision-makers between August 6 and August 15. The online survey of business owners and decision-makers were all drawn from Delvinia's premier online research panel, Asking Canadians, through the Methodify platform.  

About KPMG in Canada

KPMG LLP, a limited liability partnership, is a full-service Audit, Tax and Advisory firm owned and operated by Canadians. For over 150 years, our professionals have provided consulting, accounting, auditing, and tax services to Canadians, inspiring confidence, empowering change, and driving innovation. Guided by our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Courage, Together, For Better, KPMG employs nearly 8,000 people in over 40 locations across Canada, serving private- and public-sector clients. KPMG is consistently ranked one of Canada's top employers and one of the best places to work in the country.

The firm is established under the laws of Ontario and is a member of KPMG's global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International, a private English company limited by guarantee. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. For more information, see home.kpmg/ca.

SOURCE KPMG LLP

For media inquiries: Nancy White, National Communications and Media Relations, KPMG in Canada, [email protected], 416-876-1400