COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
Updated 08/13/2021
Due to the rise of COVID infection rates and our concern for
the health of our employees and customers, Cox Farms will require that all employees
be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the start of the season.
Employees that are unable or unwilling to get the vaccine (regardless of
reason) will need to submit negative test results on a weekly basis in order to
continue working. Anyone who is not vaccinated and does not provide weekly
test results will not be eligible to work at Cox Farms for the 2021 Fall season.
WAIT, this is new. Earlier this summer, you said that vaccination would not
be required.
Yes, this announcement reflects a change made August 12,
2021. The COVID-19 situation has changed drastically in recent weeks, and we
are responding accordingly. Believe us, we did not want to be making this
decision, and we didn’t think we were going to need to a month ago. But this pandemic
is constantly changing, and we need to change accordingly to keep everyone
safe.
OKAY, I’m vaccinated. Do I need to do anything?
Great! Please make sure the employee site reflects your
vaccination status, and send us proof of vaccination. You can text a photo of
your vaccination card to (703) 829-5498 or email to working@coxfarms.com. Or, if you prefer,
bring the original document to your orientation. We know that this is private
health information and it will be handled accordingly, shared only with HR and
management as appropriate.
I’m not vaccinated yet, but I am willing to get the
vaccine if it is required. What does this mean for me?
GREAT! The good news is that there is still time for
employees to get vaccinated, but you’ll have to act fast! If you get your first
shot by this weekend, you should be able to get your second shot two weeks
before our season begins. Once you get your final shot, send proof of
vaccination to working@coxfarms.comor text it to (703) 829-5498.
Find a vaccine: https://www.vaccines.gov/
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus/vaccine
At the start of the season, I will be partially
vaccinated but not yet considered fully vaccinated (two weeks post-second/final
shot). What does this mean for me?
It depends on whether you have received your final shot. Because
this change is being announced so late, we will make an exception to the
testing requirement as long as you have received your final dose (and
provided proof of vaccination) prior to the start of the season. This means
that as long as you have gotten your second shot by the time your first shift rolls
around, then you will not need to provide a negative test result. If you have
not received your second shot by the start of the season, then you will need to
provide weekly negative test results until you are fully vaccinated.
Until you are fully vaccinated, you will need to get a
COVID-19 test weekly on Thursday or Friday and provide the results before you
start working. Your negative test result from a Thursday or Friday will allow
you to work that Friday through Monday. Once you are fully vaccinated, provide
us with proof of vaccination status (text a photo of your proof to (703)
829-5498 or email to working@coxfarms.com)
and then you will no longer need to provide test results.
I am not able/willing to get vaccinated, but I still want
to work this fall. What does this mean
for me?
You will need to get a COVID-19 test weekly on Thursday or
Friday and provide the results before you start working. Your negative test
result from a Thursday or Friday will allow you to work that Friday through
Monday. This will need to continue through the season. If you are unvaccinated
and fail to provide your weekly test results, you will not be permitted to
work, resulting in suspension without pay or termination of employment.
The good news is that there are lots of easy local options
for rapid tests, including free drive-through appointments and even home test
kits. In line with CDC recommendations, unvaccinated employees will also be
subject to different policies regarding quarantine, known exposures, etc. The
link below provides information about local sites and at-home testing.
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-testing/
I am not able/willing to get vaccinated, and I really
hate your decision. I don’t want to work somewhere with that kind of policy, so
I’m no longer interested in working this fall.
Okay. We’re sad to see you go, but we respect everyone’s
right to make this decision for themselves, and we know this decision won’t
make everyone happy. Please email working@coxfarms.comwith "DECLINE EMPLOYMENT” in the subject line to let us know that you will not
be working this fall. We hope to see you back in future seasons, once the COVID
pandemic is under control!
This is discrimination! Can you do this? Is this even
legal? Isn’t it a HIPAA violation to ask me my vaccination status?
This is not a decision we wanted to have to make. Safety is
our first Key, and keeping our employees and customers as safe as possible is
our highest priority. Considering the current circumstances, we feel this is
the best option to do that.
This policy is legal, and it is not a HIPAA violation or
discrimination. It is not discrimination because we do not ask or assess WHY
you are not vaccinated, and we provide ALL employees with the option of
providing weekly test results as an alternative to getting vaccinated.
There are tons of resources out there breaking all of this
down, but here is one great resource with more information about COVID, HIPAA,
and legal issues: https://www.hipaajournal.com/is-it-a-hipaa-violation-to-ask-for-proof-of-vaccine-status/.
Note: We understand that there are lots of reasons that
individuals may not be vaccinated. We recognize that folks from marginalized
communities have legitimate reasons to be suspicious of the mainstream,
white-centered medical establishment, and that such reservations may be driving
personal decisions about whether to get vaccinated. Our policy is "no questions
asked,” no explanation involved, so no one has to defend themselves or their
decision. All employees are welcome on our team this fall, regardless of
vaccination status, but there will be an additional step each week for
non-vaccinated employees.