The vaccine mandate may not apply to your Uber driver or Big Mac server
In addition to those 80 million workers, there are another 43 million employees who work at companies that employ fewer than 100 people — and who are not covered by that federal mandate.
For example, most fast food restaurants are independently-owned franchises, not company-owned locations. So although some franchisees own multiple shops with lots of employees, many own a single restaurant with a headcount that exempts them from the rule.
These companies could require their franchise operators to have their employees comply with the same rules that apply to larger companies, but that’s unlikely, said Brian Kropp, chief of research at consulting firm Gartner’s HR practice.
‘The war for talent’
“If the mandate were to apply to them, it makes it more likely in future legal cases for drivers to say, ‘We’re treated the same way as employees,'” said Kropp.
Most of the companies engaging with franchisees or independent contractors didn’t respond to questions about their plans when contacted for this story. DoorDash, however, said that it won’t ask its delivery drivers to comply with the vaccination rules because of their status as independent contractors.
“We are encouraging all members of the broader DoorDash community to get vaccinated,” the company said, adding that it does require its delivery drivers to wear masks when interacting with the public.
Can vaccines be good for business?
Many larger business are happy to see the new vaccine and testing mandates because they believe a widely vaccinated workforce could lead to a more level playing field.
“They’ve done the math and figured out that vaccines mean lower absenteeism, lower health care costs,” Kropp said.
For major employers that compete for talent with other large companies, the new rules are a big advantage, Kropp said.
Small employers, however, haven’t been able to embrace mandates on their employees because they often compete for workers with similarly-sized companies.
A survey of 533 small businesses conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business, a trade group that primarily represents companies with fewer than 100 employees, found that only 3% had any kind of vaccine mandate, and that 14% were “considering” one. The survey was conducted over the first six days of September, just before the federal rule was announced.
“Their ability to retain and recruit workers is a major factor in whether they impose a vaccine mandate,” said Holly Wade, executive director of the NFIB Research Center.
At the same time, small businesses have to worry about absenteeism if Covid cases start spreading through their workforce in addition to the health care expenses for the roughly one third of small employers who offer health coverage.
Although a major airline like Delta might be able to afford a $50,000 hospital bill when an employee is hospitalized, small businesses are hard-pressed to cover those costs.
“Any huge medical event for one of their employees can increase their premiums astronomically,” Wade said. “We hear about that from small business owners all the time.”
