Clark County Commissioners, from left, Ross Miller, Michael Naft, Jim Gordon, Chairman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Tick Segerblom, William McCurdy II and Justin Jones pose for a photo during a swearing in ceremony at the Clark County Government Center, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.
Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021 | 6 p.m.
Clark County employees who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19 might have to take regular tests showing they don’t have the virus to stay on the job.
The Clark County Commission will vote on the proposed policy this month, but made clear after a discussion Tuesday that it supported a vaccine-or-test policy.
Such requirements are becoming increasingly common in public and private workplaces.
“I think it has quickly become the standard of employers in our community,” said Commissioner Michael Naft. “We are a large and significant employer in our community, and I think it’s our responsibility to look out for the majority of our employees who are looking out for the people they share cubicles with, or share tight spaces with.”
The county employs about 10,000 people.
“Other jurisdictions have told us that they are watching what we do today. Businesses have told us they're watching what we do today. Trade shows are certainly watching what we do here today,” said Commissioner Justin Jones. “We've got to lead by example.”
County manager Yolanda King said the county researched a stricter vaccine mandate for workers, without the option to supply negative test results instead, but she said that could come with legal concerns, and the county would have to consider how to respond to hesitancy. Or it could adopt a shots-or-test plan.
Gov. Steve Sisolak last week announced a similar policy, effective Aug. 15, for Nevada’s 27,000 state employees. MGM Resorts International also now has a shots-or-test policy for workers. Wynn Resorts announced its policy in April.
Commissioners said Las Vegas’ recovering tourism-driven economy depends on tighter new rules to combat the latest surge as the pandemic approaches the year-and-a-half mark.
Naft, a member of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board, said trade show organizers are “not asking for laxer rules.”
“They are asking, ‘Are the employees that will be working alongside our employees, are they vaccinated? And what are you doing to diminish and decrease the spread of the virus?’” he said.
Naft suggested a policy include workers at entities that the commission oversees — like the county-run University Medical Center, which the Sun reported in June had an employee vaccination rate of between 70% and 75%. (It doesn't appear to have increased much in the month-plus since. UMC chief executive Mason Van Houweling told the commission Tuesday that 73% of hospital employees overall have gotten their shots.)
The commission plans to revisit the subject at its Aug. 17 meeting.
