Corporate Social Responsibility policies and practices on unvaccinated employees during the COVID-19 pandemic: case studies of Israel and United States

Abstract

PurposeThe article addresses the tension between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the right to work in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, it explores the operation of corporations in adopting policies of mandatory vaccination and the role of the courts regarding these CSR patterns.Design/methodology/approachThe article examines court case studies of CSR practices regarding unvaccinated employees during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel and the United States.FindingsThe findings show that the Israeli system adopted the regulating for individual discretionary CSR approach, whereas the American system adopted the regulating for ethical-public CSR approach. Adopting the latter infringes upon the right to work of unvaccinated employees. While in Israel, the possibility of compelling employees to vaccinate is denied, in the American model, mandatory vaccination is possible. As opposed to the American model, in the Israeli model, there is an obligation to consider proportionate measures to isolate the employees while allowing them to continue working.Originality/valueThe article introduces two possible notions of regulating CSR in times of the pandemic – regulating for individual discretionary CSR which is labor-oriented and regulating for ethical-public CSR which is focused on public aspects. While the former posits that corporations should advance individual interests of employees and their right to work, the latter claims that corporations should advance the public interest in health. Following the problems resulting from the Israeli and American cases, the article draws on the lines for a suggested approach that courts should embrace.

Does Public Value Commitment Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility Fuel Accountant’s Productivity During Covid-19 Pandemic and New Normal: A Case Study on Public Sector in Vietnam

“…The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has impacted the global labour market (Litor, 2022 ). COVID-19 presented significant obstacles to public-sector organisations (PSOs) and employees (Ha et al, 2022 ), who may suffer from the effects of such pandemics, and this pandemic also impacted their rights (Litor, 2022 ). Public employees have been under pressure to contain the pandemic while maintaining the continuity of vital services (Ha et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Employees are becoming increasingly aware of the expanding social obligations that organisations have. CSR strategies, such as those that are labour- or public-interest-focused, could emerge during a pandemic (Litor, 2022 ). The pandemic has spurred more interest in CSR than ever before (Ajina et al, 2020 ).…”