Deja Vu: The Delta variant and the low vaccine numbers in many areas are bringing back masking, testing and mandatory vaccinations. Your new link to check daily (even before the Olympic updates) will indicate whether your workplace is in a red or yellow high transmission area. If you are in a high transmission area–over 60% of the country is right now–the CDC recommends masking indoors in public regardless of vaccine status.
Does the CDC Guidance Matter? It does to the White House and many states, who follow the CDC to make their determinations. But no, it is not the force of law. Your state may not mandate masking–yet–but your duty to maintain a safe workplace remains (hello, OSHA). If your workplace is in a red or yellow area–and that changes daily–you would be smart to require masking to keep your workers safe.
Can We Just Make Everyone Get the Vaccine? That is the solution for many employers: the federal government, Google, Facebook, and the City of New York are just a few who are mandating the vaccine. The list keeps growing.
How Do We Implement a Mandatory Vaccine Policy? With the right tools, you can avoid many issues like consent or compliance with exceptions. We have a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy which is based on the EEOC guidelines and includes a:
- COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Employer Policy;
- Employee Informed Consent of the Vaccine Policy; and
- Waiver Forms for Employees who need a Reasonable Accommodation due to Disability or Religious Beliefs.
We can help. Contact us.