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Hi Everyone –

The ground has been shifting beneath us in the last two weeks as a result of the CDC and MDHHS guidance that for the public, people who have been vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask. As such, we changed our rules for our customers, and generally our staff was very happy to not have to monitor for appropriate mask usage. Now MIOSHA has lined up with that same guidance for staff, and as Kristin’s latest email announced, they require us to verify vaccination for those employees choosing not to wear a mask. Based on MIOSHA rules, you have three choices: provide proof of vaccination and go without a mask, choose not to get a vaccine and wear a mask, or choose not to disclose your vaccination status and wear a mask. The choice is yours.

That being said, I am strongly encouraging you to get your vaccine. It is free and readily available at Walmart, Meijer’s, Walgreen’s, etc. Your health is in your own hands, but not getting a vaccine can also have an impact beyond you. For example, there is no vaccine currently approved for children 12 and younger and they are susceptible to contracting the disease and have no option for protection. Severe illness in children happens more frequently than originally thought.

Because the vaccine is readily available, our COVID pay plan is ending June 1. To date, we have paid more than $51,000 in wages for staff who have been out because of COVID illness or exposure. You are still encouraged to stay home when sick, as has always been the case, and until MIOSHA changes their rules, no attendance points will be accrued for COVID absences if you are out of ETO.

We are also launching our first Annual Review “season” when all performance reviews will be done at the same time of year. Part of the process now includes a self-evaluation, which you can expect to be given by your supervisor for you to complete within the next week or two. Managers and supervisors will then be hard at work to complete them all by June 25, with increases reflected in your July 9 paycheck.

Those who can work from home have been required to do so by the state until just this week. We have scheduled that all of us will return to the office on June 7, with required office days on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Further guidance will be out on this soon.

Many things continue to be in motion – the new South Holland store plans are waiting on the City of Holland for approval, the Allendale reset is a little delayed because we are waiting for fixtures, the second plastics granulator is now operational for the Ignite program, and the VITA season wrapped up and we served approximately 1,100 households.

Stay well, all of you, and enjoy the warm weather –

Jeanette