Vaccinated Workers Must Still Wear Masks. Period.

Proof of full vaccination is literally becoming a passport needed not just to travel but also get into certain public events and venues, possibly including the workplace. But while mandatory vaccination and verification may be an appropriate response to the latest Delta variant surge, it has also injected an element of confusion into indoor face mask rules. The common misconception is that people who are fully vaccinated don’t have to wear masks. That’s simply untrue. Under current public health rules, masks remain mandatory for individuals that can’t maintain the required 2 metres/6 feet of social distancing regardless of vaccination status. Period.

So, you should continue to enforce your face mask policy against both the vaccinated and unvaccinated. At the same time, you must recognize that there are legitimate grounds for exempting certain persons from mask rules:

1. They work in a setting that allows them to maintain the minimum social distancing;
2. The mask endangers their health or safety, such as by causing an allergic reaction;
3. They can’t safely use the mask due to a disability or other personal characteristic requiring accommodation under human rights laws.