WSDA Human Resources Office
Gov. Jay Inslee’s Aug. 10, 2021 Proclamation 21-14 requires state cabinet agency employees to be fully vaccinated with an authorized COVID-19 vaccine by Oct. 18, 2021, as a condition of employment.
This mandate applies to WSDA. Employees will work with WSDA Human Resources if they request an exemption from the vaccination mandate for a medical or religious accommodation.
After requesting an exemption, expect an interactive process to determine whether your circumstances qualify under the exemption requirements. If the exemption is approved, you will continue the interactive process to determine whether an effective reasonable accommodation would allow you to perform the essential functions of your job.
Each case will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as to whether an effective reasonable accommodation does or does not exist. Following the process, you will be notified what accommodations, if any, are available to permit you to continue in your position without vaccination. While separation could result if no accommodations are available, each accommodation is evaluated uniquely.
WSDA Human Resources will ask employees to provide documentation to support a request for a medical and religious accommodation.
Medical request
To the extent permitted by law, WSDA must obtain documentation from an appropriate and state-authorized health care or rehabilitation professional stating that the individual has a medical requirement for an accommodation and how long the need for accommodation is likely to last.
If qualified with appropriate medical documentation, WSDA will approve reasonable accommodations, unless providing such accommodations would pose an undue hardship to the agency, such as financial or disrupting business operations. The requesting employee must participate in the interactive accommodation process and provide all information reasonably needed to evaluate the request.
For an employee to remain unvaccinated after Oct. 18, 2021, WSDA must receive documentation from the employee’s medical provider.
Religious request
WSDA will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with religious beliefs who request an exemption, unless providing such accommodations would pose an undue hardship to the agency, such as financial or disrupting business operations. The requesting employee must participate in the interactive accommodation process and provide all information reasonably needed to evaluate the request.
The proclamation requires WSDA to document the request for accommodation. The document must include a statement about the way in which the requirements of the mandate conflict with religious observance, practice, and/or belief of the employee.
The requesting employee will be asked to complete a “COVID-19 Vaccine Religious Accommodation Request” form no later than Oct. 4 to help assure timelines for response can be met.
The form contains two questions about your sincerely held religious belief, based on the Proclamation 21-14 exemption. In most circumstances, WSDA will need additional follow-up information about your strongly held religious belief(s).
The form asks the requesting employee to affirm or agree that they have never received a vaccine or medicine from a health care provider as an adult.
Forms
Employees may request a medical or religious exemption by completing and emailing the appropriate form to Human Resources at hresources@agr.wa.gov.
Employees may ask HR for a form, or links to the forms are available on the intranet, Human Resources homepage:
- COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Accommodation Request Form
- COVID-19 Vaccine Religious Accommodation Request Form
Vaccine verification
For instructions on how to verify your COVID-19 vaccine status, see the Insider blog post State employee vaccine mandate; how to verify your vaccination.
To be considered fully vaccinated by Oct. 18, 2021, you must have received your second dose of a two-dose vaccine or a single-dose vaccine by Oct. 4. If you get a two-dose vaccine series, you need get your first dose of Moderna by Sept. 6 or Pfizer by Sept. 13.
Vaccine information
Do you have questions about the authorized COVID-19 vaccines? Consult credible, official sources for information about safety, effectiveness and other concerns.
From Washington State Department of Health:
- Answers to frequently asked questions
- Myths vs. facts – What’s what and how to tell the difference
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
If you have additional questions you may contact WSDA Human Resources at hresources@agr.wa.gov.
In summary: All state cabinet agency employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 18 as a condition of employment. The WSDA Human Resources Office will process requests for exemptions from the mandate and reasonable accommodation. This Insider blog post describes that process.
