Vaccine vial dose flu shot drug needle syringe,medical concept vaccination hypodermic injection treatment disease care hospital prevention immunization illness disease baby child. blue backgroundWith the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, evolving science and continued pandemic-related guidance on the local, state and federal levels, employers in New York and elsewhere are facing never-before-seen challenges in sustaining their business operations while keeping their workforces safe.

As everyday lives of employees continue to be upended, employers must make difficult decisions, including, among others, whether to implement mandatory vaccine and/or weekly testing requirements, particularly given vaccine hesitancy by some employees; how to best handle COVID-19-related leave and accommodation requests; and how to determine the most effective safety measures for the workforce.

These challenges are further compounded in an evolving pandemic world, which undoubtedly has affected all employees, whose views on work may have changed over the past almost two years and particularly given current worker shortages in certain industries.