With more adult Americans getting vaccinated against COVID-19 by the day, many employers have started laying the groundwork to get back to the office. Returning to a post-pandemic workplace can be daunting, as employers attempt to navigate local,
state and federal safety protocols and consider the issue of mandates for vaccines and mask wearing.
The latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allows people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to forgo masks in most public settings, indoors and out. Private businesses may have the right and authority to adopt
an approach that is similar to the CDC guidance or demand that employees and customers wear masks on their property.
So, should an employer require stickers, pins, badges or other forms of identification for vaccinated employees in the workplace?
It depends. There are a variety of local, state and federal laws and regulations that impact an employer’s obligations to maintain the confidentiality of certain employee information, such as vaccine status. The employer must review applicable laws
and regulations before making the decision of using an identifier for vaccinated employees in the workplace.
An employer who wants to implement some form of an identification program for vaccinated employees may mitigate risk by having a voluntary disclosure policy. For example, if a vaccinated or unvaccinated employee prefers not to disclose their vaccine status
to the employer or wear the identification item, the employee would simply continue to wear a mask in the workplace.
Employers may also consider different messaging on the pin, sticker, or badge that indicates an employee has been approved to be mask-free in the workplace, rather than simply indicating that an employee has been vaccinated. This distinction may seem
insignificant, but it could be meaningful in the context of laws and regulations related to confidentiality practices.
If you decide to require stickers, pins, or badges for vaccinated employees (or those approved to be mask-free in the workplace), there are options:
- Sticker or Pin - Assigning a custom sticker or pin is a simple way to identify employees approved to be mask-free in
the workplace. The main issue with stickers or pins is that people can easily forget to wear them when they come in to the office. The easiest remedy to that is to adhere the sticker or pin to an existing or new employee ID badge, which
is usually required to gain access to the building in the first place.
- ID Badge with Custom Design
- Stickers and pins are simple solutions for existing ID badges, but not all badges are designed to incorporate a sticker or a pin. It is recommended that you redesign your employee ID badge to create space for a sticker or a pin. However, if
you are redesigning your card layout for this purpose anyway, you may just decide to include a variable custom graphic or identifier that will be printed on instead of manually placing an object on the card.
ID Badge with Custom Laminate, Watermark or Tactile Impression - While stickers, pins, and redesigned badges provide the most economical solution, there will be concerns about the longevity and security of such methods. While these solutions are simple, they are easily forged and can be tinkered with. Incorporating
a custom laminate, watermark or tactile impression on an ID badge reduces those risks significantly and provides a professional look.
If your organization decides to identify vaccinated (or mask-free approved) employees, IdentiSys can help. IdentiSys has solutions for COVID vaccine stickers, custom badge design services, custom laminate and equipment required to print custom watermarks and tactile impression. Contact us to speak with your local identification and security expert.