All employees can participate in the vaccination program voluntarily. Due to the limited availability of the vaccine as well as the staggered approach for distribution, all employees are required to comply with the state-mandated face-covering policy and other safety measures such as social distancing, washing hands, staying home when sick, and other COVID-19 safety measures for the foreseeable future or until the vaccine is widely available for all employees.
Memo for Employees
Policy & Procedure
| Policy | COVID-19 VOLUNTARY VACCINATION POLICY |
| Department | All Departments |
| Last Updated | March 2021 |
Policy
In accordance with The Company’s responsibility to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known risks, this policy is to protect the health and wellbeing of our employees and their families and the community we serve, from COVID-19 through an effective vaccination program. The Company strongly encourages employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible based upon the accessibility of the vaccine and vaccination prioritization guidelines. This policy is compliant with applicable laws and based on guidance from state and federal agencies where necessary.
Procedure
The Company strongly advocates for all employees to have a COVID-19 vaccination.
Employees who choose to take the vaccine will be granted time off. Employees are responsible for informing the General Manager once they schedule the vaccine. The General Manager can then make the schedule changes necessary to accommodate your request. Employees who have accrued sick leave may submit a request for compensation through the payroll platform (Gusto).
Employees may present written proof of vaccination from an authorized healthcare provider or pharmacy to establish that they have received the vaccination.
Vaccine Notification to Employees
Eligibility Letter for Employees (Template)
General Manager should fill in the necessary blanks on the letter for the employees.
Eligibility Letter for Employees - Vaccine.docx
How Vaccines Work
COVID-19 vaccines train the immune system on how to identify and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. The body typically takes several weeks to build immunity (protection) against a virus after vaccination. Hence, a person could still get COVID-19 just after vaccination, since the vaccine hasn't yet developed immunity.
Make sure you are getting both doses of the vaccination if the vaccine requires two shots.
Vaccine safety
Clinical trials have shown that COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA are safe and effective. These vaccines have only been authorized after it was discovered they significantly decrease the risk of catching COVID-19.
The authorized vaccines have a 95% effectiveness rate against a person getting COVID-19.
Learn how the federal government is working to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
Safety monitoring after vaccination
In the United States, millions of people have received COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, using both established and new safety monitoring systems. These vaccines cannot give you COVID-19. Learn more facts about COVID-19 vaccines.
Results from monitoring efforts are reassuring. Many people reported only mild side effects after the COVID-19 vaccination. Others had no side effects. The vaccines do not contain coronavirus and you cannot get COVID-19 from taking the vaccine.
Benefits of getting vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccination is crucial to regaining normality.
Vaccines for COVID-19 are effective at preventing infection. But they also have other benefits, such as:- In the event that you still contract COVID-19, the vaccine may prevent you from becoming seriously ill.
- Becoming vaccinated can also protect people around you, especially those at increased risk of COVID-19.
- The COVID-19 vaccine is an effective way to improve immunity.
Read more at CDC’s Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.
Posters/Infographics for Employees
Please share these with employees!
Reasonable Accommodations
If an employee takes the vaccine and/or develops any vaccination-related symptoms, we will cover their shift and provide supplemental sick leave. This sick leave is separate from any sick leave you already have with the company.