Wisc. Bill Would Prohibit Employers From Forcing Employees To Get Flu Vaccines

Add to the prohibited grounds of discrimination that some legislators in Wisconsin want to add–the right to refuse to get a flu shot.

The proposed legislation, 2013 Assembly Bill 247, would prohibit employers there–including those in the health care industry–from demoting, suspending, firing or discriminating against employees who refuse a seasonal influenza vaccination.

It also prohibits any employer from doing any of the following:

• refusing to hire a prospective  employee or renew the contract of an employee or contractor on the basis of
  vaccination status for seasonal influenza or refusal to be vaccinated against seasonal
  influenza;
• requiring any employee or contractor to receive a vaccination against
  seasonal influenza if the employee or contractor declines in writing after receiving
  certain information; and
• requiring unvaccinated employees or contractors to wear masks  in retaliation for refusing the influenza vaccination; or requiring employees or
  contractors in a health care setting to wear masks in a manner that exceeds a certain  requirement.

Here’s the bill’s full text.