Name: Employer Connection Series – Kosciusko County: Bridging Gaps in Workplace Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Resources
Start: 2024-04-25T09:00:00-04:00
End: 2024-04-25T15:30:00-04:00
Location: Live Well Kosciusko

SUBMIT A QUESTION

ACCESS FREE WEBINARS

THE LATEST ON MASK-WEARING + VACCINE INQUIRIES, MANDATES AND CLINICS

CDC: Guidance for the Fully Vaccinated now recommends wearing a mask indoors. Decisions to require masks are being made in Indiana at the local level for counties and school systems.

New data from the state of Indiana on surging COVID-19 cases.

COVID Stops Here campaign from the Indiana Chamber and Wellness Council of Indiana; recognizes employers with at least a 70% vaccination rate among employees and offers guidance for those companies not yet at that level.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HIPPA rules do not apply to employers or employment records. HIPAA only applies to HIPAA-covered entities – health care providers, health plans and health care clearinghouses – and, to some extent, to their business associates. Thus, employees in general can ask employees about their vaccine status or require proof of vaccination – that is not a HIPAA violation (unless a HIPPA-covered entity). Employees may decide whether or not to provide that information to their employer.

We encourage any employer considering or implementing a vaccine mandate to consult legal counsel to ensure the policy is in line with federal law and guidelines. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a mandatory workplace vaccination program must meet standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of being “job related” and “consistent with business necessity.” Under the ADA, employers are generally required to provide reasonable accommodations for employees who, due to a disability, do not get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Info on employers hosting vaccine clinics or group attending an existing clinics.

As employers, it is imperative to understand that we remain in the midst of a pandemic, with Indiana seeing a growing number of COVID cases. Wellness Council of Indiana Executive Director Jennifer Pferrer discusses best practices for employers:

COVID-19 Vaccine Now Open to Age 12+; Make Appointment, Find Walk-in Location

OPERATING YOUR BUSINESS

Indiana Chamber CEO Kevin Brinegar on vaccinations: “The more Hoosiers get vaccinated, the sooner our businesses and the lives of our workers can get back to a semblance of normalcy. I encourage you to consider sharing one of these convenient state options”

Ice Miller: Indiana Chamber legal counsel has a resource center for businesses on coronavirus in the workplace
Governor Holcomb reinstates policy requiring Hoosiers seeking unemployment benefits from the state to be actively seeking full-time work, effective June 1. The federal government authorized states to waive work search requirements during the height of the pandemic. A subsequent judicial ruling requires the state to at least temporarily reinstate the federal payments, which are currently set to expire on September 6.
Protecting Workers: OSHA Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace
Indiana Small Business Restart Grant expansion (April 2021): to help accelerate economic recovery activity by supporting Hoosier entrepreneurs and small businesses. The program provides working capital to eligible companies by reimbursing certain expenses incurred during and related to the global pandemic. Eligible businesses may receive up to $10,000 per month with a maximum total grant amount of $50,000.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Shuttered Venue Operators Grant: Program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. A total of $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
FREE webinars from the Indiana Chamber. Featured: Employer Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccinations | Missed one? Zoom replays available (28)
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act and Other EEO Laws (includes vaccine guidance)
Vaccines and Employment: Ice Miller on Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations for Employees; Ogletree Deakins summarizes EEOC Issues Revised Guidance Addressing COVID-19 Vaccines
Protecting workers: OSHA home page (for continued updates); initial guidance summary
COVID-19 Cleaning Guidance for Businesses: Direction from the Indiana State Department of Health
Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD): Comprehensive guidance for employers and employees as they work through unemployment, rolling layoffs and re-engaging the workforce. Unemployment insurance FAQ for Claimants and FAQ for Employers
COVID-19 Screening Tool: Employees can evaluate symptoms with Apple’s in-home health assessment and understand possible next steps
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Combating the coronavirus and impact on business

FOR YOUR HEALTH

Vaccine Guidance: Indiana and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | *** Indiana is currently vaccinating those age 12 and older; make an appointment or see what sites take walk-ins ***
UPDATED! CDC: Guidance for the Fully Vaccinated (including mask usage) (July 27)
UPDATED! Vaccine Toolkit for Essential Workers: Information for employees/employers (June 28)
CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers (March 8)
CDC: Guidance on When to Quarantine (March 12)
Indiana State Department of Health: State and county updates
Indiana State Department of Health hotline: (877) 826-0011 from 8 a.m. to midnight daily
Be Well Indiana: Free mental health resources from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration
Indiana Medicaid: Telemedicine, telephone options available
Indiana Rural Health Association: Connecting Kids to Coverage-Indiana
Anthem: Coronavirus and COVID-19: What You Need to Know

HELPING HOOSIERS IN NEED

The pandemic has ushered in a food insecurity crisis in Indiana. Below is a list of major food pantries throughout the state to consider for donation.

Catholic Charities (Terre Haute and West Central Indiana)
Community Harvest (Fort Wayne)
Food Bank of Northern Indiana
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
Food Finders (Lafayette)
Gleaners (Central and Southeastern Indiana)
Hoosier Hills (Bloomington)
Human Services, Inc. (South Central Indiana)
Second Helpings (Central Indiana; prepares and delivers meals)
Second Harvest (East Central Indiana)
Southeastern Indiana Economic Opportunity Corporation
Tri-State Food Bank (Evansville)

Wellness Council/Indiana Chamber Operations Effective July 5, 2021:

The Wellness Council/Indiana Chamber office is now open to visitors. Wellness Council Staff is currently working remotely to help meet your needs; access contact information for all Chamber team members.

NOTE: The Chamber is strongly encouraging ALL staff and visitors to wear a mask, in line with national and local recommendations. Masks are available at our front desk.

Upcoming Events