Businesses can require employees to get COVID-19 vaccine

BUTLER, Pa. — If you’re fully vaccinated, according to the CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health, you don’t need a mask anymore in most situations. Some businesses like Integracare are taking that a step further, requiring all employees to get vaccinated.

“We have had essentially no COVID-19 cases in our communities and no outbreaks in our communities since that’s happened,” said CEO Larry Rouvelas.

Rouvelas said he is working hard to make sure it stays that way across the 12 facilities his company owns. Mass vaccinations of residents and staff members helped make it possible this spring. It recently required all 700 employees to get the vaccine, something it is legally allowed to do.

“Ultimately we got to over 90% of our team members across our company agreeing to get vaccinated, which is wonderful,” Rouvelas said.

He said they lost more than 50 employees due to the requirements.

More businesses are expected to follow Integracare’s lead in requiring employees to get the vaccine.

Here’s the latest mask guidance for travelers

Cox Media Group