Article submitted by Jamie Fleury, The Pilot News Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — The COVID Policy allowing for ten days of COVID leave for City of Plymouth employees expired Monday without renewal by the Plymouth Common Council.
City of Plymouth Attorney Sean Surrisi and Human Resources Manager Jennifer Klingerman did not recommend that the council renew the policy based on changing and more flexible Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) policies, shortened required leave times, a reduction in the number of positive cases after the Omicron Variant surge, reduced fatalities, and the widespread availability of vaccinations for those who choose to obtain them.
The City of Plymouth has a robust Paid Time Off (PTO) and Sick Leave option; allowing employees five days per year which can be accrued up to 400 hours. The policy added an additional ten days for COVID related illness or absence.
No action was required on the part of the Common Council. They chose to let the policy expire.
Member Greg Compton recommended that the policy be considered again if the current direction of COVID should change.
Attorney Surrisi agreed. “One there is one things we’ve learned in the last couple of years is that we need to be nimble and responsive and go where we need to do deal with what we’ve been dealing with, so certainly yes.”
