Probably not (depending on state). BUT there are plenty of red flags to watch out for before issuing that pink slip.
Yes, a company can have a policy that all employees must be vaccinated. Generally, if an employee purposefully violates a company policy and gets fired for it, that disqualifies the employee for unemployment benefits. BUT if an employer fires an employee because the employee:
- Cannot get the vaccine for medical or religious reasons (i.e., accommodations);
- Takes time off to quarantine, recover, isolate, etc. (assume there is a doctor’s note); or
- Complains about unsafe work conditions related to COVID,
THEN the employer could face some serious consequences. Simply firing an employee for not following a company rule — vaccine or otherwise — typically means the employee won’t qualify for unemployment benefits.
