[IL] Mask policy
My employer recently changed their policy to fully vaccinated employees are not required to wear masks. We weren’t asked to provide proof of vaccination or even attest to it. Of course, many of the unvaccinated people took off their masks immediately. These are people who are vocally anti-vaxx. I don’t know why but this just seems wrong. Why didn’t my employer just say masks are optional? The people I report to are not vaccinated, so I don’t feel I can complain. Is this a typical and should I voice my concerns?
Posted Jun 17, 2021, 5:45 PM UTC
05
"Not required to wear a mask" means masks are optional. You are not required to wear one, but you can.
Voicing concerns will not fix or change this. If you are uncomfortable not wearing a mask, continue to wear one.
The words “fully vaccinated” are also in the policy. Somehow I missed the memo that explained ‘fully vaccinated’ means those who can’t or wont be vaccinated as well as partially or fully vaccinated.
My employer is all over dress code rules but somehow this issue isn’t enforceable. I would prefer they drop the disingenuous language.
Look, people are going to abuse this policy, you know it, I know it, your employer knows it as well.
The simple fact of the matter is that unless and until something changes with the national consensus on vaccine status and tracking, you're going to get people that will lie about their vaccination status or simply refuse to say anything because that is the type of person they are.
Your employer can see who is and who is not in compliance with the dress code. They do not have the ability to see who is vaccinated, and they are probably not going to want to open the can of worms that would ensue if they demanded every mask-less employee show proof of vaccination.
My employer offered an incentive to vaccinate/prove vaccination, provide a copy of your vaccination card and receive an extra day of vacation. Not sure legality of it, but if a company was looking to file proof of vaccination, incentivizing it may be an option.
However, you still run the risk of people not being vaccinated and saying they are but are against proving it/don't need the incentive.
Wear a mask if you are uncomfortable and consider looking for different employment. Unfortunately now that the CDC says "vaccinated" don't need to wear a mask, you are going to find this issue at other places.