Extra Day Off For State Of Michigan Employees Who Get Vaccinated

As we here in Michigan try to charge toward "herd immunity" against COVID-19, many businesses and employers are offering some pretty sweet incentives.

Now, the State of Michigan is offering state employees something extra to make sure everyone can go get their shot(s).

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Michigan's Vaccination Goals

It is safe to say here in Michigan, our COVID-19 experience has been a lot more different than other states. Now, according to Lansing State Journal (LSJ), Governor Gretchen Whitmer's strategy for relaxing restrictions falls on vaccination rates!

The "MI Vacc to Normal" plan outlines how the more people across the state get vaccinated, the more things can get back to normal; for example, LSJ reports one of the milestones was just recently met, 55% of eligible Michiganders have been poked with at least their first doses, now businesses can get back to working in-person starting May 24.

Once 70% of the state is vaccinated is when we will start to see major lifting of the restrictions, many of which we have been under since March of 2020.

Incentives To Get Vaccinated

There are plenty of food joints offering free food for getting your shot(s) but now, LSJ cites a memo from Director Janine Winters to department heads, state worker unions and human resource officers announcing the one-time addition of eight hours to sick leave balances.

Specifically, according to LSJ, she said, "This leave is intended to be used by the employee to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine during 2021"

CLICK HERE for more information from LSJ on how various unions are working with the state to make this happen.

Why This Matters

Of course, getting the state vaccinated is important and one of the reasons people haven't gone and gotten vaccinated (besides the fact they simply don't want to) is they don't have time to go due to work, can't get the time off or don't have the extra days available in case they don't have the best reaction.

I am sitting here writing this right before I leave to go get my second dose and am so thankful to have employers and a schedule that allows me to go do that. It means a lot too employees to know their employers do actually care about them and want to make it so they can go out and do something to keep themselves healthy.

Every shot that goes into an arm gets us closer to "normal" as we see happening now with the CDC's latest announcement that vaccinated Americans can go without Masks.

However, according to WILX, Michigan can stand to hold their horses according to Linda Vail, Ingham County Health Officer as she noted "Michigan is worse off than, and therefore a bit behind, the rest of the country."

Either way, keep checking in with your local health departments, be kind, and be well friends!