Verizon EVP Legal and Public Policy Officer Craig Silliman explained Friday that all workers entering a facility where there are Verizon workers present must be vaccinated. Wireless Estimator has reached out to find out whether cell site work would be impacted by the mandate since Verizon workers are typically not on site at those locations.
Beginning January 1, 2022, all persons entering any Verizon premises in the U.S. where Verizon employees are present must be either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or approved by their employer for a legally-recognized accommodation.
“This includes all supplier personnel (and applicable subcontractor personnel) who are accessing Verizon U.S. premises where Verizon employees are present. Verizon suppliers are required to confirm that their personnel meet these requirements,” Verizon said in a notice to its suppliers.
Wireless Estimator has reached out to Verizon in order to identify if a crew or maintenance personnel are working on a tower site and there are no Verizon personnel present, which is most oftentimes the case, whether they must meet the Verizon vaccination mandates.
If so, it is likely that contractors will see many of their employees leave their organization. One contractor informed Wireless Estimator that he believes that it could be as high as 40% but might drop lower when workers and their families reassess how they will be affected due to the loss of income.
It has been estimated by a number of surveys that 50% or more workers employed by construction companies have not been vaccinated. It would be expected that wireless workers would fall within that average.
Verizon said, based on the current guidance from the U.S. federal government, a person is considered “fully vaccinated” for COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine. If the definition of “fully vaccinated” changes (e.g., to require a booster shot) they will communicate that change to their suppliers.
At the moment, this does not apply to Verizon’s union-represented employees as they are in discussion with the unions.