New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has only a few days remaining in office, issued a Covid-19 vaccine mandate for all private sector workers in New York City. Beginning December 27th, workers in New York City who perform in-person work or interact with the public during business must show proof they have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Workers will then have 45 days to show proof of their second dose (for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines).
Businesses may not allow any unvaccinated workers to come to their workplace. A workplace is considered any location, including a vehicle, where you work in the presence of at least one other person. That said, an unvaccinated person may enter the workplace for a short period of time to use the bathroom OR make a delivery. Also, when discussing vehicles NYC mentions taxi or ride share, not delivery trucks. More FAQ’s are available here.
Information for Businesses
Businesses must verify and keep a record of each worker’s proof of vaccination by December 27. There are three options for how businesses can meet this requirement:
- A worker’s record can be a copy of their proof of vaccination or a record of a reasonable accommodation with supporting documentation.
- Businesses can create their own paper or electronic record that includes the following information for each worker:
- Worker’s name
- Whether the worker is fully vaccinated
- For workers who submitted proof of the first dose of a two-dose vaccine, the date by which they can provide proof of a second dose (no later than 45 days after submitting proof of the first dose)
- Record of reasonable accommodation with supporting documentation
- Businesses may check each worker’s proof of vaccination before they enter the workplace each day. They must keep a record of each verification.
Non-employee workers, such as contractors, must provide vaccination proof to their employers. Businesses may request that a contractor’s employer confirm proof of vaccination. Businesses must then keep a log of these requests and the confirmations they receive.
New York City currently requires proof of Covid-19 vaccination for a variety of activities for workers and customers such as indoor dining, gyms, and performances. The program now requires two vaccine doses, up from one (unless you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). In addition, all public sector employees have been required to show proof of vaccination for months. About 90 percent of adults in NYC have at least one dose of the vaccine and booster shots are readily available.
This expected to cover around 184,000 businesses. Though the mayor did not say it publicly, it is likely that the desire to get workers to return to the office, particularly Midtown Manhattan played a role in creating this mandate.
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