HomeMy WebLinkAboutX-E-01 Affirm Continuation of Employee Vaccination Incentive
City Council Memorandum
To: Mayor Fasbender & City Councilmembers
From: City Administrator Dan Wietecha
Date: February 7, 2022
Item: Employee Vaccination Incentive
Council Actions Requested:
Affirm continuation of employee vaccination incentive through June 30, 2022.
Background Information:
On January 3, consistent with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) legally required at that
time, the City Council approved an employee vaccination and testing policy consistent with the ETS.
Subsequently, on January 13, the US Supreme Court stayed OSHA’s ETS. On January 26, OSHA
officially withdrew the ETS. Upon the Supreme Court’s stay, we stopped the items in the policy that
had been required under the ETS (mandated vaccination or weekly testing).
The City’s policy also included a Vaccination Incentive that was not required under the ETS. The
incentive provides a paid “wellness day” for regular employees who are vaccinated and share that
status with the City. This would be a full shift and would need to be scheduled according to existing
procedures by the end of the year. It would not be paid out upon separation of employment. For
paid-on-call and seasonal employees, who work flexible schedules, we instead offered a stipend of
$100 for POC and for seasonal employees normally scheduled for over 20 hours per week and $50
for seasonal employees normally scheduled for 20 or fewer hours per week. All medical information,
including vaccination information, will be treated in accordance with applicable laws and policies on
confidentiality and privacy.
This incentive was not part of OSHA’s ETS. The Management Team feels there is value in
encouraging employees to voluntarily vaccinate and to share that status with the City. Vaccinations
help reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and reduce lost time due to illness.
In order to avoid confusion about the status of this incentive following the Supreme Court’s decision
on the ETS, I recommend the City Council confirm that the incentive is still offered through June 30,
2022, with use of any wellness days occurring by December 31, 2022.
Financial Impact: Wellness days would be budget neutral. Stipends would depend on the number
of eligible employees who vaccinate and report.
Committee Discussion: Not applicable
Attachments: Not applicable