Managers/Supervisors,

Karl will be sending out communication tomorrow regarding Belmark’s change in face mask policy for vaccinated employees.  Karl’s message is below for you to review, but please do not disseminate or discuss until he has the opportunity to communicate it.  The Task Force anticipates this will generate a flurry of discussion, so I wanted to provide some guidance below.

Our new policy states that vaccinated employees will no longer be required to wear a face mask.  We will follow our Principles as an organization and trust our employees to be truthful when deciding whether or not to wear a mask.  As Karl states below, we all must respect and support each other and their decisions they make as individuals.  Please note there may also be vaccinated employees to still wish to wear a face mask due to their own comfort level.

  1. Can I ask if someone is vaccinated? You will not need to – we are stating we trust our workforce to do the right thing
  2. I know my employees well, and I know in particular one who has stated they will not be vaccinated.  I now see them without a mask – what can I do? Remind all your employees what our policy is, and what our Principles are.  Keep in mind someone’s medical history, decisions, and record, are confidential and may have changed without you knowing.
  3. I have employees stating they are uncomfortable with the environment now that we no longer are enforcing masks – what can I do? Remind them the vaccine is readily available and to work with their doctor on options.  Also remind them that masks are optional for vaccinated employees – if they are more comfortable utilizing the PPE they may certainly do so.  The CDC guidelines had changed last week due to the fact the science had proven out that vaccinated individuals do not spread the virus, so there should not be concern with vaccinated employees not wearing masks indoors (we’ve linked the CDC update to Karl’s message below).
  4. I have employees telling me a particular person did not vaccinate – can I take action?  What should I tell my team member? Remind your employee that someone’s medical history, decisions and record are not their concern, and again we must respect one another and their decisions they make as individuals.

This is a good opportunity to also remind your teams about the vaccination clinic Friday at Welmark, and the walk up availability in our area (particularly at Lambeau and UWGB).  We are still providing the benefits of 2 hours of paid time for vaccination and additional COVID19 day for employees electing vaccination at this time.

Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns – the Task Force is here to help guide you and your teams through this transition.  Thank you!

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Belmark Family,

From the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic our goal and number one priority was to keep everyone healthy and safe so that we could take care of each other and our customers. With our all in culture our Belmark Family has succeeded in this goal.

Our next steps are the return to pre-pandemic Belmark safely.  The breakthrough in COVID19 vaccines have allowed us to make this transition. The effectiveness and safety of the vaccine has proven to almost eliminate the danger of severe reactions to the virus and the prevention of contracting and transmitting to others.

The Task Force, and I personally, will continue to encourage every Belmark employee to get vaccinated and contribute to the ongoing safety of our campus. We also believe that your health care and choice to be vaccinated is personal, and each individual must make a responsible, informed decision which works for them. We all must respect and support each other and their decisions they make as individuals.

People who have made the decision to be vaccinated have made the choice to protect themselves, family, friends and those who are immune compromised. The vaccine is at a point where supply is abundant and readily available for everyone who chooses to make that choice.

For COVID19 VACCINATED employees, effective immediately, as per CDC guidelines, all COVID PPE (masks, social distancing, dividers, etc.) will be a personal choice and no longer required when on campus at Belmark. Unvaccinated employees must still follow Belmark’s COVID19 guidelines and safety procedures, including face masks.  Unvaccinated employees not following our COVID19 protocols will be in violation of our safety procedures. 

As with other COVID19 policies, this is subject to change based on factors such as vaccination levels, case prevalence, CDC, and local health officials.   I trust our workforce will follow our guiding principle of doing what is right, for themselves, each other, and our customers, and follow the guidance outlined by the CDC and local health officials.

I look forward to welcoming you all home to Belmark as we return remote employees, customers, vendors, collaboration, smiles, laughter, handshakes, hugs and so much more to our daily lives at Belmark.