News Flash

On Tuesday evening, the Winston-Salem City Council approved the revised COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Under the revised policy, employees who remain unvaccinated are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test each week. The following changes are effective immediately:

• The partial vaccination incentive of $500 for full-time employees and $250 for part-time employees will be available for employees who become fully vaccinated.
• Unvaccinated employees will be required to resume testing in order to report to work the week beginning the week of Monday January 31, 2022 and beyond. Employees will be required to provide proof of a negative test no later than Friday January 28, 2022 in order to report for duty the following week. A more comprehensive schedule for future weeks will be provided should the item pass Council.
• Unvaccinated employees must show proof of a negative test result by the required deadline prior to being cleared to  report for duty. If the test result is not available before the deadline, proof of testing will be accepted until the negative test result is available. Employees who do not provide proof of a negative test result will be considered out of compliance with the policy and subject to disciplinary action under the policy.
• Vaccinated employees who obtain (or have obtained and show proof of) a COVID-19 booster will be eligible for a one-time lump sum additional payment of $200 ($100 for part-time employees).
• Employees who are non-compliant with the policy for five weeks will be suspended for 10 days without pay.
• Employees who are non-compliant with the policy for six weeks will be suspended indefinitely without pay.
• The progressive disciplinary process does not start anew with the revised policy.
• Unvaccinated employees who test positive, or are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a physician, will be removed from the system for mandatory testing during their quarantine period and  will not be penalized for not adhering to weekly testing protocols.  Human Resources will inform those employees as to when they will need to resume testing.

More information on the testing compliance schedule will be sent to impacted employees.