With millions of workers facing a looming vaccine mandate deadline, many are wondering if there are any good options for employment without vaccination.
I have taken notice of the number of comments on PP from readers that are facing job loss or fear that they will soon be facing one even if their company does not require COVID-19 vaccination at the moment.
The vaccine mandates are regularly being updated. At the moment, there are supposed to be some exemptions. Of course, that doesn’t mean your employer will not tell you that they are going to require vaccination no matter what.
Here are a few of the current exemptions. Keep in mind that this is as of November 7, 2021.
- Companies with less than 100 employees unless the company is a medical office that accepts Medicare and Medicaid payments.
- People that work exclusively from home even if they work for a company with 100 or more employees.
- Those that work 100% outdoors and do not share company vehicles with others. For example, if you own a landscaping company with less than 100 employees and people drive their own vehicles, vaccination is not required. Have a crew vehicle and more than 100 employees? Then everyone has to be vaccinated.
- Some health conditions or for religious reasons. These exemptions seem to be hard to get.
On November 6, 2021, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary halt to the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate. This action provides those that think that being vaccinated should be a choice rather than forced, some hope that rational minds and freedom will prevail.
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Freelance, Contract Work, and Work From Home Options
At the moment, freelance and contract workers are exempt from the vaccine mandates if they start mandating it for freelancers and contract workers, then we will have truly reached the point where it is required for basically everyone.
Here are a few jobs to consider.
Online or Telephone Customer Service Representative
A lot of customer service jobs that were once done in a cubicle are now done at home. While customer service positions are not the highest paying jobs out there, they are plentiful and easy to do as long as you have a good phone, internet connection and are comfortable talking to others all day. Of course, you also need to be able to keep your temper even if you are having a bad day.
Data Entry
Data entry positions are plentiful, but duties vary based on the company. You may be working for an insurance company, government agency, or a law firm. Sometimes other duties are required, so it is important to read job descriptions carefully when applying to make sure you have the necessary experience.
Writer
Freelance writing is how I have earned my money for years. I had to start out with some very low-paying work, but that was back when the demand for online writing was just getting started. One thing to keep in mind is that some writing jobs that are lower-paying and entry-level have lower expectations in terms of skills. For example, you may be asked to write product descriptions or even reviews. Other beginner work may be writing short blog posts that require just a little research. You might be surprised how much you can get done in a single hour, even if the pay appears low per word or product description.
Web Page Design
There is always a need for web page design, but it is fairly competitive due to how many people from overseas there are in the job market. It can be hard for someone in the USA to compete with a design firm based in India. At the same time, a lot of people prefer to deal with a native English speaker because it can be hard to explain what you want when there is a language barrier.
Consultant
Do you know a lot about something? Is your knowledge specialized enough that someone would be willing to pay to consult with you? Plenty of people make good money as consultants. Over the next year, I am going to be doing some preparedness and survival consultations to supplement my writing. Rates for consultation vary based on what industry or specialty you are in, but in general, it pays pretty well per hour. Even if you cannot make a full-time income from consulting, it can be a very lucrative supplemental income.
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Look for work-at-home jobs.
Companies that allow you to work from home are less likely to require vaccination. At the moment, those that work entirely from home do not have to be vaccinated. Of course, the a company may require it anyway, just as a personal policy, so it may be good to ask before applying.
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Work From Home Job Boards
This is a great job board for finding a variety of work from home jobs. You can narrow your search easily so you can hone in on the jobs you are most interested in. I was amazed at how high the pay rates are for even basic work-from-home jobs. At the moment, there are over 500,000 work-from-home jobs offered on Indeed.
The UpWork site is used by employers that are seeking workers for everything from short-term projects to long-term work. Creating a profile on UpWork as a freelancer allows you to apply for a ton of different jobs. This site is great for those who want to take on some part-time work occasionally to supplement their income or want a lot of different projects that add up to a decent income.
The FlexJobs job board features a good variety of jobs that offer flexible hours and/or offer the option to work 100% from home. I noticed a decent number of upper-level jobs, such as management positions. They also had plenty of entry-level work-from-home jobs.
I am a big fan of the ProBlogger Job Board. The jobs that got me where I am today were all found on ProBlogger. There may not be a ton of jobs listed, but most of them are really good writing opportunities. ProBlogger is how I started writing for Backdoor Survival and Primal Survivor. Without those opportunities, I might not be writing for Peak Prosperity.
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Starting your own business might be an option for you if you have the resources.
There have been people that have successfully started businesses during COVID-19. While it is still challenging for some types of businesses, if you can find something that there is demand for, then you may be able to get started. There are deals out there on office space if you need it to work, but it can save you quite a bit of money if you can work from home.
Small Farm
While I know that farming is not for everyone, I also know that some of the PP tribe have moved out of the city and onto acreage. For some of you, it may be possible to earn some extra money farming. I am not saying that you should quit your other job or not find other freelance work because farming can take some time to get into and actually start making any money. I believe that at some point soon, being able to actually produce something consumable is going to be a lot more valuable. There are many reasons why a lot of people are going to have to start eating closer to home.
Landscaping
Those that work outside all the time are exempt from the vaccine mandates at the time of writing. This means jobs in landscaping. Just remember that if the company has more than 100 employees and you have to share vehicles, then the jab is going to be required.
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Ask employers that require vaccination if you have the option of a weekly COVID test instead.
At the moment, there is an option for weekly testing. Part of the problem with this is there is no indication that this expense will be covered by any insurance. This means that employees that choose weekly testing over-vaccination will face a hefty monthly testing bill. With inflation on the rise, many people are already finding it harder to provide for themselves and their families.
Keep in mind that the weekly testing option is entirely up to the employer. They can deny this additional option entirely or take it away at any time.
The cost of a weekly COVID-19 test can vary widely based on what type of test your employer will accept. At home, tests are available and cost less, but some companies may insist that the test be conducted by a medical professional at a much higher cost.
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Look at smaller businesses, especially those that are known to be or appear to be more conservatives.
Remember that businesses with less than 100 employees do not have to require vaccination unless they personally choose to do so. While I hate to bring the politics of the mandates into this article, it is impossible to avoid the fact that small liberal businesses are far more likely to require the jab than small conservative ones. Finding good employees is difficult right now, but that doesn’t stop some from requiring the vaccine based on their own personal beliefs. That being said, don’t make assumptions strictly based on business owner’s appearance or age. Just because someone has blue hair and piercings doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to ask you to get the jab.
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Are you willing to relocate to secure a no-jab job?
If you are not attached to where you are currently living, perhaps you might consider moving to a more friendly state to the unvaccinated. Some people are making a choice to move to states like Florida and Texas. This migration started before the vaccine mandates when some people grew tired of the restrictions and lockdowns in their own area and decided it was time to move where they could have more freedom in their daily lives.
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Search for work on no-jab job boards.
When there is a demand, someone will fill the need. Since vaccine mandates are affecting so many, there are now websites that have job listings for those that do not want to be forced into getting even a single shot. Here is a list of sites and links that I have found that have regularly updated job listings. If you have a business, need workers, and have no plans to require vaccination, you should consider listing your available positions on these sites.
As more job boards pop up, Peak Prosperity will make every effort to keep you informed. If you know of any companies that are hiring and do not currently require vaccination, please share in the comments section. I would also appreciate any links to other job boards that you are aware of that I have missed.
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Be willing to take on multiple jobs that add up to a full-time income.
Some of the jobs I talked about in this article can be challenging to make a full-time income from, especially if you have never worked in that particular field. In order the avoid vaccine mandates, you may find that it is easier to make ends meet if you take on multiple part-time opportunities. You may even find that you like the change of pace compared to having one job where you basically do the same thing 40 hours or more per week.
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Is retirement an option?
Those that are older and close to retirement that have built up a nest egg may want to consider getting out of the workforce early or at least take a break from working if mandates are actually enforced starting January 4, 2022. Consider taking on some online work to supplement your retirement income if you don’t feel comfortable dipping too much earlier than you initially planned.
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Consider saving what money you can and then waiting to see if you actually get fired. Make whatever you can until then and pick up some freelance work in the meantime.
Saving money can be hard, but at this point, you have a few months to stash back what you can. See how long it actually takes an employer to tell you to clear out. At the same time, it may be a good idea to start taking on some freelance work, so you already have something going when you are let go.
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Coping Strategies
A lot of people are currently wrestling with the decision of what they are going to do when January 4 rolls around and they are still not vaccinated. This is incredibly stressful. There are no easy answers for many of these workers. Switching careers is a big decision to make. There is also always the fear of what if it doesn’t work out. Here are a few tips for staying sane through this extremely difficult time.
- Take some time to do something you really enjoy, and that is relaxing for you.
- Spend time with friends and loved ones that are supportive.
- Remember that there are a lot of others like you out there, including people that own businesses and companies that believe that workers should be free to choose what they put in their bodies. You are not alone in this.
- As people realize that these mandates deadlines are approaching, reality is sinking in, and they are fighting back.
- Apply for some freelance jobs starting a month before the deadline for vaccination. Don’t take on too much if you have a full-time job already but picking up a few extra hours per week can feel good because it reinforces that there are plenty of other opportunities out there that will allow you to lead your life as you choose.
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Conclusion
While vaccine mandates are looming, there are currently quite a few job opportunities out there that allow you to work from home and avoid vaccination. Many people wonder if the mandates will be expanded until everyone has to be vaccinated if they want to be allowed to do anything. I think that people are starting to fight back, and I hope that when this is over that freedom will prevail. We are in for a tumultuous winter and spring as we begin to see mass vaccination results on people ages five and up.
Are you facing job loss due to your choice? What are you doing to deal with vaccine mandates? Do you know of any job boards or companies where people that are unvaccinated can find employment?
The post Job Hunting for the Unjabbed appeared first on Peak Prosperity.
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