Federal Employees Could Be Terminated for Refusing Vaccination

A Federal employee may be fired for refusing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus in a new mandate this week. Still, while their disciplinary cases make their way through the system, they will report to work alongside vaccinated colleagues.

Washington Post said agencies may put an employee on administrative leave, a paid suspension often used for short-term absences. But it can also be used when management recommends dismissing an employee.

The regulations for enforcing the requirement were among many new elements of a complicated, possibly contentious process that will likely go well into the winter, if not longer, due to the federal government’s vast size and presence in every state. Multiple groups of individuals will be following various regulations in the same workplace due to the details.

For Unvaccinated People: They Should Show Proof Of Negative RT-PCR Test Before Entering Government Office

According to the new directive obtained by The Washington Post, contractors who are not vaccinated must show evidence of a negative coronavirus test performed within three days of visiting a government building or participating in a regular testing program.

A contractors, government employee, and visitor who have been vaccinated must wear masks inside in federal facilities in regions where virus transmission is high or significant, but not in areas where transmission is minimal.

PASADENA, CA – MAY 14: Job seekers look over job opening fliers at the WorkSource exhibit, a collaborative effort by governmental agencies to offer jobs and job training resources at the Greater Los Angeles Career Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center on May 14, 2009 in Pasadena, California. Nineteen exhibitors offer job and educational opportunities as well as advice from the Board of Equalization at the event that is open to the general public. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

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Visitors must verify their status before entering a government facility, except those seeking assistance. Visitors who have not been vaccinated or refuse to disclose their status must also provide evidence of a negative test conducted three days or less before entering the facility.

To fulfill a November 22 deadline to be completely vaccinated, most of the 2.1 million government workers must get their last vaccination dosage no later than November 8. Depending on the vaccination they get, the time between the first and second injections will vary.

Teleworking Employees Should Be Fully Immunized, Too

According to the new regulations, a teleworking employee should also receive vaccinations. Evidence of immunization may be sent electronically. Those who are not completely vaccinated or refuse to inform their employers about their status must wear masks in the workplace, keep a safe distance from coworkers, and adhere to work travel limitations.

The advice states that new employees who start work after November 22 must be fully vaccinated, save in “limited situations” when the government must make a reasonable adjustment to exclude them. Exceptions may be granted for “urgent, mission-critical” recruits, but they must be vaccinated within 60 days of their start date.

The task group said it is working on further guidelines on how agencies should handle requests for religious and medical exemptions to the vaccination, a part of the requirement that has sparked fears that the offices would adopt widely disparate standards.

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