Job postings requiring applicants who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are growing, jumping by 90 per cent between early July and August, according to a new report from Indeed. Still, roles requiring vaccination remains low, accounting for about 1 per cent of Indeed’s total listings.

But numbers are climbing fast – suggesting we may be at the start of a long-term trend.

Last week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine. That prompted President Joe Biden to call upon businesses to “step up with vaccine requirements.” 

So far, some big brands have committed – including Microsoft, Facebook, and Google.

Employees who refuse to comply are facing ramifications. In early August, CNN fired three employees for showing up to work unvaccinated, violating company policy. Terminated employees who refuse vaccinations may not qualify for unemployment benefits, experts say. That’s because companies have the legal right to mandate shots.

Some organizations have offered incentives like paid time off or bonuses to get their people fully vaxxed.

VACCINATIONS ON CAMPUS

On college campuses, there is a growing list of post-secondary and private Canadian institutions requiring full vaccinations for students and staff. Hundreds of academic institutions in the U.S. have imposed similar policies.

But as of late July, more than 300 U.S. colleges hadn’t made a firm decision on remote or in-person classes for the upcoming fall semester.

One story that garnered significant press unfolded at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, an elite, historically Black, women’s college.

Earlier this month, staff announced they wouldn’t be returning to campus when in-person classes resumed for the 2021/2022 fall semester, citing safety concerns. While the school was, according to insiders, one of the first to impose strict safety measures at the start of the pandemic, the Delta variant and its high transmissibility raises additional issues. According to the university, staff has since returned to campus, although it’s unclear if Spelman addressed the issues raised by its staff, Essence reports.

As the situation unfolds, more businesses and colleges are likely to change their COVID-19 mandates. The remainder of 2021 will likely remain in flux, but here’s hoping for a smoother 2022.