Park District requires staff vaccinations

During the August 24, 2021, Regular Board of Commissioners meeting, the Hoffman Estates Park District (HEParks) Board approved mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for all full-time staff.

HEParks is excited to be the first park district within Illinois to issue a mandatory vaccination policy for full-time staff. As of today over 95% of the District's full-time staff is fully vaccinated or has had their first shot.

With the current surge in infections from the Delta variant, HEParks believes that the district has a responsibility to the community to safeguard employees, customers and visitors from COVID-19. HEParks facilities serve hundreds of families every day at the Triphahn Recreation Center, Willow Recreation Center, the Club at Prairie Stone, Seascape Family Aquatic Center and Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club. With the vaccination policy, HEParks believes that the district can continue providing uninterrupted, safe recreation programming, fitness, preschool and childcare programs to the community.

According to the new Policy, all currently unvaccinated full-time employees must receive their first vaccination dose within two weeks of the policy announcement or provide approved exemption paperwork. HEParks will pay staff to receive vaccinations during their scheduled work hours and are not requiring them to use paid time off benefits. Any employee who fails to comply with the Policy will be placed on leave pending termination.

For information regarding the Full-time Staff Covid-19 Vaccination Policy, contact Craig Talsma, HEParks Executive Director, at CTalsma@heparks.org or 847-310-3607.