January Vaccination Status Mandate
In Friday’s email message about building access, SAIT also included a sentence that attempted to slip in a policy change: “As of January 1, 2022, vaccination verification will be required for everyone entering campus buildings. A negative rapid test result will no longer be accepted for admittance to campus” – the word “students” in previous messages became “everyone”. This is a major change in policy and we at SAFA feel it was very poorly communicated by the institution. Therefore, I’d like to explain the impact of this change to our membership.
First, I’d like to reiterate that SAFA isn’t taking a position for or against vaccination—that is a choice for each member to make. We know there are many questions, and nothing that is said below is meant to diminish the feelings or concerns of our members. However, we do want all members to understand what impact their choice may have.
- For faculty who choose to be fully vaccinated by January 1, 2022, there will not be any barriers to you working on campus.
- For faculty who do not choose to be full vaccinated by January 1, 2022, or do not choose to disclose their status by that date and must come to campus:
- An employee may request a religious exemption from vaccination through the Interfaith Centre. SAFA is unsure what proof SAIT may require for this accommodation.
- An employee may request a medical exemption from vaccination through Employee Services ([email protected]). It is likely that SAIT will require medical proof of your physical condition that will prevent you from receiving the vaccine. If you cannot provide medical evidence supporting the need for accommodation, SAIT is not obligated to provide the accommodation.
- Employees may request to work from home. Managers can try to find alternative duties for employees which allow them to work from home. However, this may not be possible to meet “operational needs”.
- Employee may request a personal leave without pay (see HR.3.6.2 policy).
- If an employee’s job requires them to be on campus, and they are ineligible to come (due to not meeting the mandate), the employee will be considered to be absent without leave. This may result in an official warning, followed by SAIT declaring the employee has abandoned their position.
- Employees who depart SAIT under “job abandonment” will not qualify for severance, and it is unlikely that they would qualify for EI.
I’m hopeful that by Jan 1, 2022, there may be a more favourable environment for removal of these vaccine “mandates” but, in the meantime, I want members to understand their options. SAFA members are dedicated professionals and I know many would be heart-broken to leave a job they love. Three months is a long time—we’ve all seen how many times policy has shifted just in the last 4 weeks.
Regardless of your position and feelings about SAIT’s vaccine policy, please know that SAFA is here to protect your rights. Contact me at [email protected] or Blair Howes at [email protected] if you would like to discuss your specific situation.
Yours in service,
Al Brown