As vaccinated employees enter the office, employers are curious if workplace protocols and COVID-19 prevention measures should be reconsidered. Below, we lay out some recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you do choose to alter your office protocols, it is important to ensure your policies don’t violate employee privacy or anti-discrimination requirements.

Keep Mask Mandates In Place
The CDC and the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have recommended that workplaces keep mask mandates in place, and continue to retain social distancing practices, even if workers are vaccinated.

Protect Employee Privacy
Current employee privacy and federal medical privacy regulations should allow workers to keep their vaccination status private from supervisors or co-workers. Attorneys have suggested that identifying vaccinated workers by badges or markings could violate federal medical regulations. It is also important to not base job assignments or shifts based on an employee’s vaccination status.

Consider Adjusting Quarantine Policies
The CDC has shared that a quarantine policy when exposed to the COVID-19 virus may be eliminated for vaccinated workers as long as they meet the following criteria:

1.  Employee is not showing symptoms
2. Employee received the second dose at least two week ago
3. It has not been more than three months since the last dose

If you are considering adjusting your workplace policies and procedures as vaccinated employees are entering your workplace, reach out to us at MCM HR Solutions for assistance.