Milwaukee County To Require COVID-19 Vaccines For Employees

Milwaukee County will become the next Wisconsin employer to require COVID-19 vaccines for its employees.

County Executive David Crowley issued an administrative order to all non-union represented county staff that they must be vaccinated by Oct. 1, or they could be denied promotions and over time opportunities.

The Milwaukee County Board is expected to approve the order later this month as the delta variant continues to increase the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, straining some hospitals.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, county leaders have made decisions and crafted policies that deliver against our vision to become the healthiest county in Wisconsin, protecting the health of our employees, those we serve and the broader Milwaukee County community,” Crowley said in a written statement.

There are more than 4,000 Milwaukee County employees and approximately 250 Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputies who will not be included in the vaccine mandate because they have union representation, said Brandon Weathersby, Crowley’s spokesman.

About 50 percent of employees are currently vaccinated, said Kelly McKone, director of organizational performance for Milwaukee County.

Milwaukee County joins Dane County along with the City of Milwaukee and dozens of Wisconsin health care systems in requiring employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment. Civic groups and festivals have also implemented vaccine mandates including Summerfest and Milwaukee’s performing arts organizations.

According to Crowley’s order, current employees must submit required documentation verifying their complete vaccination status or must submit a completed medical or religious exemption request form no later than Oct. 1.

Vaccination status will be a condition of employment for any future posted positions, excluding the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

“The COVID-19 vaccines — including the now fully FDA-approved Pfizer vaccine — are safe, effective and widely available,” County Board Chair Marcelia Nicholson said in a written statement. “Increasing vaccination rates protects our most vulnerable state residents, helps stop the spread of COVID-19, lessens the severity of illness and the risk of hospitalization and death, and protects all those we serve in Milwaukee County.”

Employees who are non-compliant with the vaccine mandate will be ineligible for voluntary overtime or Risk Recognition Pay, when it’s available.

Additional department-level consequences could include:

• Unpaid suspension for up to 10 days;
• Consideration of non-compliance as a factor when making decisions about promotions, hiring current employees into new positions at the county, or temporary assignments to a higher classification; and/or
• Consideration of non-compliance as a factor in departmental other salary adjustment allocations.

Starting Jan. 1, 2022, employees who are noncompliant and are enrolled in the county’s health care plan will incur a $20 per pay period surcharge.

Employees working in the Behavioral Health Division may be restricted from work until vaccination requirements are completed. Ultimately, an employee’s non-compliance may lead to separation.

Bonus payments will be given to employees who receive vaccinations through county vaccine programs.