Vast majority of ESD staff have verified their vaccination status From Chief Human Resources Officer Michaela Doelman Oct. 14, 2021   Hello ESD colleagues,   Today I have news about: The COVID-19 booster shot. How ESD compares to other agencies in how we handle exemptions and accommodations. But first, I’m very happy to report that 2,853 out of 2,965 of you have verified with Human Resources that you are fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption. That is such great news and such a relief! Thank you to all who have submitted your documents. As Brad McGarvie said in his message yesterday, please submit your vaccine documents even if you've received only one dose and even if you won’t be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. Just add a comment about when you will be getting the second dose. We can rescind your job separation notice as soon as you turn in proof that you’ve started the vaccination process. As long as you complete the process, you can remain employed with the state. Find information and a link to the Vaccinate ESD app on the COVID-19 vaccination requirement page.

No leave code needed to get a booster shot
For those of you who get booster shots, please use the same guidance we give you regarding flu shots:

• You don’t need to use your accrued leave. You can take up to two hours for travel and to get the shot. Count it as time worked. No leave code needed.
• You should first get approval from your supervisor for the time away.
• We can’t offer paid leave for recovery, but you can use your accrued sick leave if you have an adverse reaction

How ESD handles exemptions and accommodations compared to other agencies
I’ve been hearing that some staff feel that ESD is “harsher” than other state agencies in our handling of vaccine exemption requests.

I don’t think that’s true and I’ll tell you why.

I attend a weekly meeting with HR leaders from all state agencies. We discuss the mandate and how we’re carrying it out.  We’re all committed to being consistent and I’ve found that we are.

That said, staff at different agencies are experiencing different outcomes based on the work of each agency. For example, all state agencies have consistently decided that full-time telework is the appropriate accommodation for staff working indoors with approved exemptions. All agencies have also decided that we can’t accommodate unvaccinated staff to conduct indoor building-essential work if staff will work around customers or co-workers. 

However, those decisions play out differently at each agency.

• If most of an agency’s work can be conducted virtually, most staff with approved exemptions will likely be able to continue in their current jobs by teleworking.
• If most of an agency’s work requires staff to work in the building, most staff with approved exemptions will likely not be able to continue teleworking. Those agencies are having to separate large numbers of employees.
• If an agency’s work (like ESD’s) is mixed — some in person, some virtual — we can accommodate some staff through telework and some not. When we can’t, we have to try to reassign staff to an open job that can be done remotely.

Currently at ESD:

• We have received 356 requests for exemptions.
• We have approved 320 of those requests.
• We have been able to find an accommodation for 262 staff with approved exemptions and we’re working on others.

Our goal is to keep as many people employed as possible. You all matter!

I hope this information has been helpful. You can find lots of Q&A on InsideESD and other websites:

• Answers to questions submitted by ESD staff. See the State vaccine mandate section.
• Q&A from the State Human Resources office 
• Vaccine Q&As on the state Department of Health website
• Video of a question-and-answer session between staff at state Department of Health and DOH's Dr. Scott Lindquist and Kathy Bay, a 36-year veteran of nursing (1 hour)
• Governor's Office FAQs

Thank you,

Michaela

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