The Sophisticated Employer Blog

It has been 427 days since Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued her first COVID-19 related emergency order, prohibiting in person work that was not necessary to sustain or protect life.

As of May 10, 55.02% of Michigan residents over the age of 16 have officially received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. What does this mean? Employers who have been grappling with the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Emergency Rule requiring “a policy prohibiting in-person work for employees to the extent that their work activities can feasibly be completed remotely” can breathe a sigh of relief. Effective May 24, in-person work in Michigan may resume without the “feasibility” demonstration. 

However, employers should take note that even though employers may return employees to in-person work, the mask-mandate and other mitigation strategies required by the MIOSHA Emergency Rules shall continue in full force and effect. 

In the coming weeks as the number of vaccinations continues to grow, other restrictions will be lessened under Gov. Whitmer’s reopening plan:

• 60% vaccinated, plus 14 days: conference centers and banquet halls will be able to increase capacity to 25% of their building fire code capacity, exercise facilities and gyms can increase their capacity to 50% and the 11 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants is lifted.
• 65% vaccinated, plus 14 days: all indoor capacity limits lifted and the 15-person, three family limit on indoor residential gatherings will be eliminated.
• 70% vaccinated, plus 14 days: Mask mandate will officially be lifted as this is the percentage medical experts say is necessary to achieve herd immunity.

While the percentages may not seem too far apart from one another, 1.21 million more Michigan residents over the age of 16 will need to receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before the 70% level of vaccination is achieved.

To stay up to date on the MI Vacc to Normal Plan and vaccine roll-out, visit: www.michigan.gov/covidvaccine.