Where Rockford employers stand on mandatory COVID vaccines, religious waivers and more

ROCKFORD — Many of the city's largest employers are encouraging their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 but will give their workers an option of being vaccinated, having an exemption or submitting to regular COVID testing.

Only one is charging employees a monthly fee if they chose to not get the vaccine.

Illinois’ COVID-19 vaccination mandate covers healthcare workers at hospitals, public or private nursing homes and teachers and staff at pre-K 12 schools across the state and employees and students at colleges and universities.

The mandate requires employees in those fields to be vaccinated or be in the process of getting vaccinated or undergo regular testing.

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Here's where area employers stand on employees being vaccinated:

MercyHealth

MercyHealth employees will have to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing and pay a flat monthly fee of $60 according to a policy announced by the health system on Sep. 10.

UW Health

UW Health updated its vaccination policy on Aug. 4 to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all providers and staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or request and be granted a waiver on either medical or religious grounds. Non-vaccinated associates will be tested weekly for COVID-19.

OSF HealthCare 

OSF HealthCare announced July 21 that it will require all of its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of September. Exemptions are available for religious or medical reasons and must be formally requested, documented and approved. OSF employees with exemptions will be tested weekly.

OSF HealthCare employees who are not vaccinated and do not qualify for an exemption may be subject to discipline, which could result in loss of employment, according to the health system.

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Belvidere Assembly Plant

The plant's owner, Stellantis, is a strong advocate for employees to be vaccinated, said spokesperson Jodi Tinson. To facilitate vaccine administration, Stellantis has coordinated vaccine clinics in the communities where the company has manufacturing facilities. The plant does not require employees to be vaccinated at this time. 

UPS

In certain U.S. office locations where employees have been working remotely, employees must be vaccinated when they return to the office, said Matthew O’Connor, UPS senior manager of media relations. Those do not include operating facilities. UPS encourages employees to be vaccinated against COVID and has been helping them and their families get access to vaccines.

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Woodward

Employees are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues and community, said Paul Benson, vice president of human resources at Woodward. Woodward’s U.S. members are required to wear a mask unless they provide proof of vaccination. In Illinois, members are required to wear a mask (vaccinated or not) within a Woodward facility unless they are in an enclosed conference room or at their workspace and six-foot or more away from another person.

Ken DeCoster: kdecoster@rrstar.com; @DeCosterKen