Removing COVID’s Uncertainties
The Weekly Report – March 22, 2021
The State’s vaccine connector helps manufacturers get employees vaccinated.
Minnesota’s Department of Health recently reached out to us to help make manufacturers aware that the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to all manufacturing employees throughout the state.
This outreach is not insignificant. Our 2020 State of Manufacturing® survey interviews revealed how many manufacturers felt particularly vulnerable to the unpredictable ways COVID affected their operations, either as a result of the disease itself or from the government’s sometimes meandering response to it. First there was the whole “essential services” rigamarole, then the periodic state closures. Employees might distrust how employers enforced social distancing (too rigorous or not rigorous enough). Do they need masks at all times? Do they need them at all? Should we take employees’ temperatures before entering the plant? Or, are temperatures a false indicator of COVID? How do we responsibly balance the influx and outflow of potentially-exposed employees’ need to self-quarantine? Or how about employees who miss shifts to accommodate stay-at-home education or to care for infected family members? Or how about trying to recruit employees when they can make more money staying at home on government benefits. (But I digress!)
Now that manufacturers are starting to see more control over what they can accomplish, DEED and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) have been genuinely helpful with some quick and easily applicable resources. Manufacturers will be smart to consider them.
The first is to help employees use the state’s Vaccine Connector to help Minnesotans find out when, where, and how to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Employees can use the Vaccine Connector to receive updates on when they are eligible to receive a vaccine and where they can schedule an appointment to obtain it through a pharmacy, local public health, or health care provider. They can also search for local vaccine providers in their area using the Vaccine Locator map.
State officials want employees to know that they will need to show proof of employment at their vaccine appointment, including an employee badge, pay stub, or letter from their employer. Clinics will then know they are eligible for vaccination. If employees forget the documentation, the vaccination site should work with them to determine what is needed to get vaccinated.
DEED summarizes with the following checklist:
- Encourage all employees to sign up for the Vaccine Connector
- Provide information about how the vaccine works and how employees can get vaccinated
- Help employees with any questions or confusion they may have
- Keep wearing masks and social distancing in the workplace.
Visit the MDH Vaccine Connector website.
Events Calendar
March 30 – Investing in Your People to Create Leaders at All Levels
Talent and Leadership expert Abbey Hellickson will be discussing how to determine and develop leadership competencies in your organization to help foster a company culture of growth and resilience. Online via Zoom Learn more and register
April 8 – How to Manage a High Performing Business: ISO
Learn the key elements of effective business management systems and the value of ISO 9001:2015 certification from expert David Ahlquist. Online via Zoom Learn more and register
April 14 – Profiting from Revenue Growth
Our top strategy and revenue growth expert Steve Haarstad will show you how to understand and define business growth for your company and create a Seven-Step Action Plan to get there. Online via Zoom Learn more and register
Industry News
DEED focuses on getting unemployed ready for in-demand careers
MN DEED and OHE met with industry representatives to discuss “The Next Minnesota Economy” and how to connect unemployed Minnesotans with current training and employment opportunities. Mar. 12, Hometown Focus Read more
MN’s Leslie LeMair appointed to WiMEF Board of Directors
The Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation (WiMEF) announced the election of 20 members to its Board of Directors, which included Leslie LeMair, a Minnesota executive. Mar. 17, SME.org Read more
Duluth paper mill plan would restore at least 80 jobs
ST Paper is exploring a possible acquisition of Verso Corp.’s idled plant with an eye toward converting it to tissue production. Mar. 17, Duluth News Tribune Read more
Minnesota looks to bring meat processing capacity up to meet demand
In a recent survey, 64% of respondent farmers said livestock processing capacity was inadequate in the state even before the pandemic. Mar. 22, Bemidji Pioneer Read more
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