Q: Can Ministry Employers Require the Coronavirus Vaccine?
Employers have a duty to provide a safe and healthy workplace. While they can generally mandate that employees receive a vaccine, there are several important factors to consider.
Ministries sometimes have to address health issues, most of them common ailments. Sometimes, it’s more serious—a child who requires special care or a medical emergency. Whatever the case, being prepared should be a top priority of every ministry.
Employers have a duty to provide a safe and healthy workplace. While they can generally mandate that employees receive a vaccine, there are several important factors to consider.
Ministries are generally permitted to request relevant health information before allowing an individual to participate in ministry activities. However, there are several important factors to consider before requiring vaccination of your attendees.
To help keep your employees, volunteers, students, and ministry attendees healthy, learn more about the preventive steps your organization can take to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Many ministries are not subject to HIPAA, but some are. Even if your ministry is not required to follow HIPAA’s requirements, understanding the privacy laws is important.
Here are some things you can do to help minimize your risk of legal consequences when administering medical care as part of your ministry.
Also known as faith community nursing, parish nursing is a practice that focuses on a broad range of organized wellness, disease prevention, and health promotion programs and services.
Learn how to address the issue of unvaccinated children in the policies and procedures at your ministry's childcare area, nursery, and school.
It’s a good idea to create and follow a child care policy that addresses how the ministry will accommodate children who have chronic and severe medical conditions.
Consider legal risk management when training your employees and volunteers to respond quickly and effectively to serious allergic reactions.
Check with an attorney to see how "Good Samaritan" laws can protect your ministry from legal liability when they apply to your ministry's activities, because these laws vary by state.
Protect your ministry from the risk of being unprepared for a medical emergency by training a medical response team in proper diagnosis and reaction in the event of an emergency.
Considering the ministry’s responsibility for the overall health and safety, leaders should plan ahead and develop policies and procedures for handling children with chronic communicable illnesses.
Most states have laws that require employers to report any potential workers’ compensation injury, even if the injury is not severe.
Your ministry could potentially be liable for the injury or expense that’s incurred if a guest comes into contact with a pest at your facility.
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