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The Virginia Department of Health has released an Essential Workers Toolkit for employers that include materials that can easily be customized to encourage vaccination in the workplace. 

This toolkit provides an introductory letter template for employees, FAQs, a slide deck that can be used for company meetings, and newsletter content. It is compliant for employees with disabilities and has been translated into several languages.

The toolkit can be downloaded at https://sites.google.com/view/covidcommshub

“This is an important pivot point as we move into Phase 2,” said Dr. Danny Avula, Virginia Director of Vaccinations, speaking on a webinar for employers. 

Avula said the Virginia Department of Health is trying to determine how much vaccine Virginia will receive and is confident that Virginia will be ahead of the May 1^st deadline of making the vaccine available to all, or Phase 2. 

Based on the supply of vaccine from the Federal government, it is likely that Fairfax County will reach Phase 1c by mid-April and move into Phase 2 before May 1^st. As more vaccine becomes available, employers need to consider workplace policies on receiving the shot.

Doug Taylor, employment law attorney at Bean, Kinney & Korman in Arlington, commented “that federal EEO laws do not necessarily prevent vaccine mandates; the EEOC’s advice for all but the highest-risk workplaces is that ADA-covered employers should consider simply encouraging employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine, rather than requiring them to take it.”  

According to Taylor, “employers who are looking to mandate vaccines should be aware that an employee may be entitled to an exemption based on an ADA disability or sincerely-held religious belief, practice, or observance based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

Many businesses are trying to incentivize rather than require employees to be immunized. That may include paid time off for the appointment or to recover from any symptoms. Some businesses are providing a gift card with proof of immunization.

Whatever your business decides to do there are many resources available to help support your plan. If you need more information, please feel free to reach out to the Chamber.