Commentary Pilots are protesting Southwest Airlines’ requirement that all employees must get COVID-19 vaccinations, and news reports speculated that mass cancelations of Southwest flights that began over the weekend were the result of pilots staging a “sickout.” But employee protests, sickouts, walk-outs, and terminations may not be the biggest threats employers face if they impose vaccine mandates. Employers that are considering forcing their employees to get COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment should be aware they could face legal liability—and potentially for big money—if and when an employee or potential hire suffers death or other adverse health effects from the vaccine. The federal government has given clear and blanket legal protection to itself and vaccine manufacturers.  However, the federal government has not given such clear and blanket protection to employers that force employees to take the vaccine. Some legal experts and vaccine proponents argue worker compensation laws and their …