Yesterday, November 18, 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation designed to give employees numerous COVID-19 vaccination exemptions to use to avoid any mandatory vaccination policy their employers seek to impose. Specifically, private employers must grant exemptions for: health or religious concerns; pregnancy or anticipated future pregnancy; past recovery from COVID-19; periodic testing or using PPE (i.e., masks). The private employer would bear the costs of the periodic testing and/or PPE.
Employers who violate these laws could be fined. Small businesses (defined as 99 employees or less) will face a $10,000 per employee violation. Medium and big businesses will face a $50,000 per employee violation. Government employers may not require COVID-19 vaccinations of anyone, including employees.
The legislation can be accessed here: House Bill 1B (2021B) – The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov). The law is effective as of November 18, 2021.