Leadership with the City of Dryden plans to approve a new mandatory vaccination policy for city staff.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Verification Policy, if passed, would apply to all city employees, including full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary, casual, students, term-contract, volunteer firefighters and members of council.
Members of council say they’re in support of the motion, but the official vote isn’t expected until December 13’s Council Meeting.
Once approved, effective January 4, 2022, all city employees would be required to provide proof of their vaccination status. Employees who have not been vaccinated or who do not disclose their vaccination status by then will be required to attend mandatory education on the benefits of vaccination.
By January 31, 2022, if those employees continue to be unvaccinated or refuse to disclose their vaccination status, they will have to submit regular COVID-19 antigen tests before reporting for duty, at their own expense.
“It’s not anyone’s goal to lose employees over this, but we also have to consider the health and safety of our employees as well,” said Chief Administrative Officer Roger Nesbitt, during December 6’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
“Vaccinated individuals are not only protecting themselves, but they help reduce the spread of the virus. This isn’t an intent to cause employees hardship for those that aren’t vaccinated, but at the end of the day, we have to consider the health and safety of all of our employees,” adds Nesbitt.
This policy would apply to employees working remotely or at home, and proof of vaccination will be required as a condition on the offer of employment for new employees going forward.
Nesbitt brought the motion forward to councillors to ask for their support on the motion, as well as for guidance on whether or not members of council should be included within the new policy. Councillors said they should fall under the same policies as City staff, and will be included in the policy.
Vaccination requirements will be subject to medical and human rights exemptions, and the city says medical or religious exemptions will be reviewed on a case by case basis – subject to the city’s accommodation process.