As supervisors we're expected to access the EMR Supervisor Portal to run status reports validating the vaccination status of our direct reports. Employees have the option of uploading their vaccination record to the EMR Employee Portal which starts a workflow process with H&M to validate their vaccination status. Following validation the employee will be authorized to unmask. Those that do not wish to confirm their status in the portal will be required to remain masked within Chevron facilities. It is the latter that I find most troubling.
In recent leadership team meetings I am already witnessing vaccination discussions amongst my colleagues and the inevitable Chevron silence following someone's admission that they have not been vaccinated or will not be vaccinated. It is an awkward situation at best because on one occasion the individual wanted to elaborate on an underlying medical reason preventing vaccination, but was quickly cut off.
We as a company have no idea of what we are about to face in terms of discrimination towards those who for whatever reason choose not to make their vaccination status known, cannot receive the vaccination, or refuse to based upon individual beliefs.
I already have encountered discussions behind the aforementioned individual's back, and sincerely believe that this will emanate down to the individual contributor level sewing disharmony into formerly harmonious working relationships.
I foresee the Workday Feedback system being used as a tool to bully and discriminate against masked individuals, and by design offering the recipient no means to counter unjust criticism.
Lastly, I'm rather shocked at our approach to this delicate issue compared to that of our nearest competitor. ExxonMobil has indicated vaccinated employees are no longer required to wear masks, but as a matter of good faith trusts its employees to uphold the policy.
We've always held the view that we are a different organization than ExxonMobil, while still focusing on delivering excellent products and value to our customers and shareholders. If you asked me which organization trusted its employees to do the right thing, I would unwaveringly say Chevron, yet it is ExxonMobil that has shown good faith in this difficult topic, and it is ExxonMobil that recorded a morale win by this action.
I'm vaccinated. I received the Moderna vaccination/s as soon as they were offered to me. I am less concerned about effects of Covid-19, and more concerned about the damaged we are intentionally inflicting upon our organization by officially sanctioning discrimination, whether through acts of omission, or willful intent.
I will not be a part of what I see as foreseeable harassment of my direct reports. I intend to ignore mask non-compliance and be especially wary of feedback that runs contrary to what I can observe with my own eyes. I ask others out there to do the same, focusing on building a team that delivers value vs. one that destroys value through self-destruction. I ask Chevron leadership to reconsider the decisions made by HES leadership as they are incongruent with our values as a company and delivery of value to our shareholders.