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On With Life reportedly told employees individuals have to be vaccinated by Dec. 4 or they can no longer work there.
“As a CMS provider, we are required to be compliant with the vaccine mandate,” the communication states. “We have outlined your options below and HR will need to know your decision by Nov. 17.”
The options employees have are:
- Receive the first dose of the vaccine by Dec. 5 and the second by Jan. 4. The only exception to the deadline is for staff who choose to get the vaccine is if they had a recent COVID infection (within 90 days).
- Complete a medical or religious exemption form.
- Choose to no longer be employed by On With Life. The timing of this decision may determine notice versus non-notice and may affect benefits, the communication states. An employee may be considered to have resigned without proper notice if HR hasn’t been notified by Nov. 17 of the employee’s intentions or they communicate an intent to get the first dose by Dec. 4 but fail to do so.
On With Life told The Iowa Standard that as a healthcare organization participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs, it is required by federal mandate from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to require the vaccinations for all eligible staff.
It is allowing exemptions for staff with recognized medical conditions for which vaccines are contraindicated or religious beliefs.
