Coronavirus Workplace Policies

Harvard continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety and wellbeing of its faculty, staff and students, as well as the wider community. The University has been open throughout the pandemic, even while much of the work has been done remotely. Notably, many members of the Harvard community have been working on campus to sustain the essential services that protect the Harvard campus and community, staff the research enterprise, or support teaching and learning. Others have been working remotely or been on excused absence status.

Please also consult Keep Harvard Healthy for updated information on requirements for campus access, health and wellbeing, testing and tracing, and travel guidance.

Note that as the University takes steps to relax COVID restrictions and regulations per CDC and Massachusetts and local guidance, some policies and temporary measures have ended.

Vaccine

As we work to reach the high levels of vaccination needed to protect our community, vaccines are required for all Harvard community members, including faculty, staff and researchers. Exemptions may be provided for medical or religious reasons. Note that unvaccinated people with an approved exemption may be subject to additional public health measures (e.g., masking, testing) above and beyond what is required of vaccinated individuals. Updates and information regarding the University's vaccine requirement can be found at the University's vaccine webpage, and additional details will be provided when available.

Consistent with federal guidance, all Harvard employees, including those who are on 100% remote work status, must be fully vaccinated. Individuals who do not have an approved exemption and are not fully vaccinated by January 18, 2022, will begin to face discipline for non-compliance. Continued non-compliance will ultimately result in termination. Employees do not have the option to choose additional testing instead of vaccination. You can submit a copy of your vaccination care via email at mrecords@huhs.harvard.edu or use one of the encrypted options described on the University's Verify Your Vaccine webpage. HUHS keeps individual medical information secure and confidential. 

Please follow the Infectious Disease guidelines if you need to take time to get the vaccine or manage side effects during regularly-scheduled work hours.

Additional vaccine information can be found here.

Updated 8/31/2022