Another week and another situation in which vaccine mandates among employers is again in the news. (And that is not even taking into account President Joe Biden’s recent executive order for federal workers & many private employers.) This week, I wanted to highlight employees that are bucking the trend and refusing to get the vaccine based upon their religious beliefs. As the below article points out, religious beliefs being used as the basis for refusing to get vaccinated could turn into an ongoing legal battle in the courts. While this situation is still somewhat of a novel dispute, it has the potential to become a hot button issue (on both sides) in the coming months.
As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.
Religious Exemptions Against Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace: The Next Battle?
As many readers might have seen over the past few weeks (and months), some private employers are mandating their employees get the coronavirus vaccine (or risk being terminated.) However, there are some exceptions for sincerely held religious beliefs or for medical reasons. As this article notes, many employees that refuse to get the vaccine are doing so on the grounds that it interferes with their religious beliefs…and therefore using a religious exemption to skirt the vaccine requirement. With that being said, many observers expect these religious beliefs to be tested with lawsuits likely to follow. After all, simply claiming a religious belief against a vaccine is not necessarily enough to avoid an employer’s vaccine requirement. Ultimately, it will likely come down to whether an employee’s religious beliefs are sincere, which would be examined on a case by case basis.
Majority of Americans Favor Increase to Federal Minimum Wage Rate
CBS News recently published a study that found that 7 out of 10 Americans favor an increase to the federal minimum wage rate, currently at $7.25/hour. The results of the poll are not particularly surprising as 85% of Democrats, 77% of independents, and 72% of moderates favor a wage hike. However, what is perhaps most noteworthy is the fact that 52% of Republicans reported their agreement that the federal minimum wage rate should be higher. Minimum wage hikes are often a more left leaning goal…however with 52% of right wing voters voicing their support in this study, perhaps there is some hope for minimum wage advocates that support at the federal level might not be far off. Stay tuned.
Discussion Increases About Raising the Statewide Minimum Wage Rate in New Hampshire
With the hourly minimum wage rate higher in neighboring New England states significantly higher than in New Hampshire (Maine - $12.15/hour; Massachusetts - $13.50/hour; Rhode Island - $11.50; and Vermont - $11.75), minimum wage advocates are increasing their efforts to get New Hampshire to raise the statewide hourly minimum wage rate of $7.25/hour. As The Concord Monitor writes, every legislative attempt over the past ten years to raise the hourly pay rate has fallen short. Even at the federal level, despite attempts by Democrats to push through a higher federal minimum wage rate, those attempts have not resulted in a victory. However, wage rate increases have proven to be a hot button issue in New Hampshire with much of the concern focused on how employers would absorb the increase in labor costs which would in turn result in a decline in New Hampshire’s gross domestic product. I encourage readers to page through this article for a more nuanced examination of the issue which takes a look at both sides of the coin. While a minimum wage hike is likely something that will eventually happen for workers in New Hampshire, the road to get there has proven to be quite tricky to navigate so far…
American Airlines Amends Pandemic Leave For Employees
Last Friday, American Airlines announced it was changing its pandemic leave policy for employees, depending upon where or not they are vaccinated. According to the company, any unvaccinated employee that has to miss time from work (due to quarantine or being unwell enough to work due to the coronavirus itself) will have to use their own sick leave or medical leave rather than the company provided pandemic leave. However for any vaccinated employee that has to miss time from work (due to quarantine or being unwell enough to work due to the coronavirus itself), these employees will still have access to company provided pandemic leave. Will other airlines (or employers in other sectors) follow suit? If I were a betting man, I would say that is a safe bet.
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