A Montclair policy, set to begin Monday, will allow city employees who have shown proof of vaccination to put a sticker on their ID badges and work without face coverings.
The policy raised objections among some local politicians in the San Bernardino County city. A city councilman expressed his concern about the new policy, saying at a City Council meeting that it is a violation of employee privacy.
Councilman Ben Lopez told CBS-2 the city is trying to impose a solution for a non-existent problem.
“I have not heard one employee say they are afraid to come to work because they are afraid of their co-workers' vaccination status,” Lopez said.
He said the rule could lead to a host of new problems.
“Employees will feel uncomfortable about associating with another. You’re going to have a level of ostracism,” said Lopez.
City Manager Edward Starr, who came up with the sticker policy, said even without the use of stickers, employees have complained to California's workplace safety board about unvaccinated co-workers not wearing masks.
“A number of complaints have been filed with Cal/OSHA, and the city can expect to be under investigation,” said Starr, according to KCAL 9.
Starr added that the rule does not require city workers to notify everyone of their vaccination status.
"They don't need to show the card to anybody except when perhaps they're challenged by a supervisor. They can keep their ID card in their pocket, which many do," Starr told LAist.
Additionally, employees are not required to put the sticker on their ID.
Mayor Javier "John" Dutrey told the city council that he supports the move.
“I just want to note that I do have a sticker on my ID card, because I want to set the example for our employees,” he said.
Starr said the city is following Cal/OSHA’s June guidelines by providing stickers. The state requires workplaces to document proof of an employee's vaccination status if they want to work maskless.
Starr also disagreed with Lopez’s assertions that the policy could trigger lawsuits.
"Federal law, particularly the ADA, does not suggest that this in any way reveals a medical condition, nor does it reveal a disability, so it does not create a liability in that regard," he said, according to the website.