COVID Vaccine Mandates for All Philadelphia City Employees

Answers to Our Most Frequently Asked Questions About the Mandate

The City of Philadelphia announced in late November that all city employees must complete a full schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 by January 14, 2022. Those who don’t comply with the mandate risk being fired.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions we receive about vaccine mandates.

Who Does the Latest COVID Vaccine Mandate Apply To?

This applies to full- and part-time city employees, union workers and embedded contractors of all kinds—including seasonal and temporary workers.

You don’t have to be a full-time city employee to be subject to the mandate. An “embedded contractor” is a worker who spends more than a third of their week working on a city contract, or in a manner or location where the public might reasonably construe them to be a city employee.

If you wear a city uniform in servicing a city contract, or if you use a city email address, you may also be subject to the mandate.

What Does “Fully Vaccinated” Mean?

You’re considered fully vaccinated when it’s been two weeks from your second shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or from the single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. So far, you can be considered fully vaccinated without having received a third booster shot.

What Are the Rewards and Penalties for Complying or Not Complying?  

Full-time city workers who can show proof of vaccination by December 24, 2021, may be eligible for a bonus of up to $300.

Those who don’t get vaccinated by the deadline will be placed on unpaid leave for as many as 15 days. During that time, you will be expected to start the process of getting vaccinated. If you don’t, you may be fired.

How Can I Get an Exception?

Some people may be eligible for an exception based on religious or medical grounds. If your request is granted, you will be required to undergo regular COVID-19 testing and wear an N95 mask or two non-N95 masks at all times in the workplace.

Where Can I Go To Get My Questions Answered?

If you have further questions about the new city-wide vaccine mandate, ask an experienced employment lawyer. Your attorney can help assess your situation and provide answers to any questions you may have.

Call us at 267-273-1054 or email us at murphy@phillyemploymentlawyer.com for a free, confidential consultation today.

The information provided here does not constitute legal advice. It is intended for general purposes only. If you have questions about a specific legal issue, you should speak to an attorney.