The province’s 30,000 public service employees will all be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22.
The government made its intentions known to bureaucrats shortly after 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
In a public news release from the government that followed about 15 minutes later, the government said by early November it would provide details of accommodations for “the few people who are unable to be vaccinated.”
“As more employees return to their regular workplaces later in the fall, this provides an additional and reassuring layer of protection for workers who are continuing the vital work of serving British Columbians,” the province said in the news release.
The government said the November 22 deadline gives workers enough time to get fully vaccinated if they have not done so already. Workers in “core government or ministries” will need to show proof of their vaccination status using the B.C. vaccine card, which was deployed throughout the province last month in a bid to stymie the spread of infection of COVID-19.
In a Q&A document provided to government workers, the province said proof of vaccination will not need to be shared just yet.
“This is expected to happen by November 1, and you will be notified when it is time to provide your proof of vaccination,” the document states.
“To align with the proof of vaccination timelines, the implementation of telework agreements approved under the flexible work policy is deferred to November 22 from the current date of October 12.”
While British Columbians venturing out to bars or cinemas in recent weeks have been required to provide photo ID alongside their B.C. vaccine card, provincial bureaucrats will not need to show such identification to their managers.
“Any employee found to have in any way falsified or misrepresented their vaccination level will be subject to disciplinary action,” the Q&A document states.
“Refusing to comply with the proof of vaccination policy by November 22 may lead to employment consequences up to and including termination.”
The province said it does not anticipate the need to keep records of an employee’s vaccination status once submitted to a supervisor.
Vaccine mandates have been a sticky issue for government.
Last month, Health Minister Adrian Dix defended a provincial order requiring all health-care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of October.
“We can’t have a situation, given the seriousness of COVID-19 and its impacts, where people are working without vaccination,” he said September 14.
A separate provincial order issued in August requires workers at assisted living and long-term care facilities to be fully vaccinated by October 12.
About 49,000 British Columbians live in either assisted living or long-term care facilities, which have disproportionately been the homes of those who have succumbed to COVID-related deaths.
More than 90% of physicians in the province have been fully vaccinated, according to B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry; while more than 90% of the members of the Hospital Employees’ Union have been vaccinated, according to the union.
