Dear PRI Staff,
Thank you for your continuing efforts to keep our community safe and thriving,
Please read the COVID-related updates below:
Vaccination Policy
We now have a vaccination policy in place as part of PRI’s commitment to meet our responsibilities to provide a safe and healthy workplace for all employees, under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The full policy is posted on the password protected staff blog on the website. It will also be posted on our public HR site.
In reminder: Link: https://pineriverinstitute.com/staff-updates
Password: COVIDUpdates2022
Policy highlights include:
- Pine River Institute requires all existing and future employees, student placements and volunteers to be fully vaccinated under Health Canada-approved COVID vaccines.
- All employees must complete the Pine River Institute Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Status Record (also available for download on the staff blog) and submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to the HR and Operational Support Director. Please have these documents submitted by February 28th 2022. We are happy to provide assistance to anyone that need assistance downloading their receipt
- If an employee is unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, they must submit valid proof of medical exemption, in the form of a Medical Exemption from COVID-19 Immunization Form completed by a licensed healthcare provider stating that they have been advised to decline COVID-19 Vaccination, the reasons for this exemption, and the length of time for which the exemption is valid (if applicable). Details on the medical exemption process from public health are on the staff blog and provided as a link on the Vaccination Status Record. I
- An employee who is unable to be vaccinated based on grounds protected by the Human Rights Code may submit a request for accommodation to the HR and Operational Support Director. The request for accommodation will be reviewed to determine whether it is a valid request under the Human Rights Code and whether it can be accommodated without undue hardship to Pine River Institute.
- Vaccine receipts and All Requests for accommodation will be stored in a secure location separate from employee files and only the HR and Operational Support Director will have access to the documents. Information collected will be used for statistical purposes only and not disclosed except as noted in this policy.
- Anyone who has not been fully-vaccinated, and does not have a medical exemption or Human Rights Code accommodation, will be required to complete a mandatory training program. All unvaccinated employees will need to complete a rapid antigen test and produce a negative result prior to the start of each shift. Additional health and safety measures will be considered at the discretion of Pine River Institute
Screening Process Reminder – Households.
Please be reminded that part of screening prior to shift includes questions around the health of households:
- If you share living space with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 you are to isolate at home.
- If you share living space with someone who is showing symptoms of COVID-19 you are also asked to isolate at home, pending confirmation of a negative test.