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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21-128CITY OF LAKEVILLE RESOLUTION NO. 21-128 Resolution Approving Interim COVID-19 Leave Program for Vaccinated Employees WHEREAS, the City of Lakeville is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees and the CDC's most recent guidance states that getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death; and WHEREAS, the Interim COVID-19 Leave Program for vaccinated employees will encourage vaccinations and allow vaccinated staff the time to test or isolate per CDC recommendations; and WHEREAS, this program will provide up to two weeks of city paid COVID leave for fully vaccinated employees. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council approves the Interim COVID- 19 Leave Program for vaccinated employees effective October 4, 2021. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED this interim COVID-19 Leave Program will sunset on March 31, 2022. ADOPTED by the Lakeville City Council this 4th day of October 2021 CITY OF LAKEVILLE Douglas rAnderson, Mayor A Charlene Friedges, City Clrk City of Lakeville Interim COVID-19 Leave Program for Vaccinated Employees Effective: October 4, 2021 PURPOSE The City of Lakeville is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees. The city wants to work together to ensure that essential functions are operational, and service can be provided. The CDC's most recent guidance states that getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. Unvaccinated people should get vaccinated and continue masking until they are fully vaccinated. The City of Lakeville strongly urges all employees to work with their health care provider to ensure they are getting the proper preventive care needed for COVID-19 and related variants. In order to encourage vaccination and allow vaccinated staff the time to test and/or isolate per CDC recommendations, the following policy will be in place effective October 4, 2021. For the purpose of this benefit, holidays will be counted as a holiday and will be included in the 80 hours bank. Employer benefit contribution and leave accrual will continue during paid COVID-19 leave. Such benefits do not vest and will not be paid out if an employee separates from the City. It is expected that, in the event this policy is amended, updated, or replaced, a new effective date will be added, and the prior policy will be automatically withdrawn. City of Lakeville COVID-19 Leave Policy for Vaccinated Employees: effective October 4, 2021 Effective October 4, 2021, the City of Lakeville implements the following COVID-19 leave policy for benefit earning employees, and part-time sales associate employees. This will also apply to members of bargaining units if approved by the exclusive representative in a Memorandum of Understanding. 1. For fully vaccinated employees (two -weeks following final dose): Eligible for up to two weeks maximum of city paid COVID leave (up to 80 hours, pro- rated for part time employees and part-time sales associate employees). This leave is available effective October 4, 2021, regardless of prior use of city paid COVID or FFCRA leave provided to the vaccinated employee. City paid COVID leave will be utilized prior to other leaves that may be available. City paid COVID leave will be provided at the employee's regular rate of pay when the employee is unable to work or telework because the vaccinated employee: • is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID- 19; • has been advised by a health care provider to quarantine or isolate related to COVID-19; • is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis; • is seeking testing for COVID-19 pursuant to guidance from the CDC and/or MDH; or is caring for a vaccinated family member (or family member unable to be vaccinated) who has tested positive for COVID-19 and is ill/needs care. A family member is an employee's adult child, spouse, sibling, parent, grandparent, stepparent, parent -in-laws, grandchildren. received a COVID booster shot and has an immune response from the vaccine. 2. For partially vaccinated employees (at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine): Eligible for 50% of the benefit described above in #1 for the reasons provided. 3. For unvaccinated employees (have not received any vaccine): Eligible for up to 2 shifts of city paid COVID leave for currently unvaccinated employees who are in the process of becoming vaccinated and have an immune response from the vaccine which is severe enough to impact work activities. In this situation, employees may use city paid COVID leave for up to 2 shifts total (not per dose) in the 48 hours immediately following administration of a vaccine dose. Use of leave for this purpose will reduce the amount of leave available for #1 above after employee becomes fully vaccinated (i.e. employee will not be able to receive more than 80 hours or equivalent paid COVID leave for vaccine administration and isolation combined). Documentation required Generally, human resources will require certification to verify the qualifying reason for the leave and proof of vaccination. Employees should be prepared to provide: • Documentation such as a copy of any quarantine or isolation order, written note by a health care provider advising self -quarantine, or the results of a COVID test; and/or • Documentation showing the employee's vaccination status. We understand that requesting healthcare provider documentation may place additional burdens on our medical community during this pandemic, therefore if an employee is unable to obtain this documentation, at a minimum, the name, address, and phone number of your treating healthcare provider must be provided. The city also reserves the right to request additional documentation completed by your healthcare provider in situations where there is reason to believe an employee has fraudulently obtained leave or paid benefits. Employee reporting process: • Employees experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should inform their supervisor as soon as possible and stay home and away from work while being tested and waiting for results. • Employees who have been advised by a health care provider to self -quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19 should inform their supervisor and provide the health care provider directive. • Employees who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don't have symptoms. Source: www.CDC.gov Employees are expected to keep their supervisor up to date on testing and test results. Except as otherwise directed by a supervisor, testing should be done as soon as possible at an available public location that is at no cost to the employee to use. For positions requiring expedited testing and results, the city may direct the employee to a specific testing location(s). Employees must inform their supervisor of the test results upon receipt of the test results. The employee direction to remain out of work or return to work will be made by the city based upon the test results and/or surrounding facts. • You must follow treatment recommendations and return to work information must be forwarded to Lakeville's Human Resources division. Employees must stay home until they are free of fever (100.4 F1280C or higher) and other symptoms, such as frequent and severe coughing for at least 24 -hours without the use of medicines (e.g. aspirin/ibuprofen and cough suppressants). Source www. CDC.gov. • No return to the workplace can occur until you are allowed by your supervisor. A medical certification by a medical professional may be required. Exemptions for medical or religious reasons Any employee who is unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to a disability or other medical contraindications or sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance may be eligible to receive the benefits above. Human resources will require medical documentation and/or an attestation from the employee to approve benefits in these cases. See human resources for more details. This temporary program is approved by the City of Lakeville City Council and is subject to change based on business needs as determined by the city. This program will sunset on March 31, 2022, unless terminated earlier by Council action.