TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel
SUBJECT: Vaccination Measures
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving background information on public and private employee vaccination initiatives, and provide direction to staff on whether to develop a plan to implement further measures to increase vaccination rates among District employees. [Requested by Director Walsh - 9/8/21]
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Safe and Secure Operations
Initiative - Employee Recruitment, Training and Retention
As many employers move toward requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the District is looking at available options to increase employee vaccination rates to protect employees, their families and the public.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
The budgetary impact of pursuing a mandatory vaccination policy is currently unclear but would likely include continued incentive pay for vaccinations; COVID testing for unvaccinated employees; employee paid time-off to obtain a vaccination or COVID test; and staff time related to negotiating, enforcing and defending vaccination requirements. By not requiring vaccinations, the District would continue to incur expenses related to employee absences for COVID, compliance with California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CalOSHA) testing requirements for COVID outbreaks, and a potentially extended period for requiring and providing Personal Protective Equipment.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
COVID-19 vaccines have been available to public transit workers since March 2021. As vaccines have become widely available, employers have considered and, in some cases imposed, vaccination requirements for their employees. Employers establishing vaccination requirements have based the decision on many factors including federal and state mandates, relatively low vaccination rates in some regions or among some employees, ensuring a safe working environment for the return to o...
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