Copyright Staten Island Advance
Some New York City residents terminated for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine will have the opportunity to return to their prior civil service titles, Mayor Eric Adams announced on Wednesday. Those eligible to reclaim their roles include employees in all mayoral agencies, at New York City Public Schools and the New York City Housing Authority. Ultimately, about 2,900 employees previously terminated for failing to comply with the 2021 mandate will be offered the chance to return to their old job at the same rate of pay for which that title is currently paid. However, in returning to that role, the employee will not receive any credit for the time they did not work and will have no right to backpay, as explained in a press release from Adams’ office. “The policies put in place before we came into office helped us weather additional waves of COVID, and once coupled with the policies our administration put in place over the first months of our term, we helped New York City rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic with a record number of jobs, record number of small businesses, near record tourism numbers, and so much more,’' said Adams. ”But we recognize that we are in a different place today than we were nearly four years ago, and our policies should match the realities of the times. That’s why we are updating our policies to reflect our new health and economic reality, as we look forward to welcoming back many of our former employees to their former positions. Ensuring New York City has the strongest workforce possible will continue to make our city safer, more affordable, and the best place to raise a family.” This opportunity for select individuals follows a previous offer in 2023 that invited about 450 terminated employees to be reinstated. This latest policy will allow former employees to resume their positions pursuant to a proposed rule change by New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, which is subject to a public hearing and approval by the New York State Civil Service Commission. Non-competitive employees and New York City Public Schools school-based staff are eligible to return to their former job without change to the rules, as indicated in the release. “As we surpass five years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to reevaluate policies to reflect current realities,” said New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “We are committed to working with agencies to offer employment opportunities for employees terminated for failing to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.” Previously-terminated employees who require a physical exam, fitness test, or other training or examination requirements, including certification, will still be subject to these requirements in order to assume their old position. There will also be a limited background review of subsequent history of those returning to work. All former permanent competitive and labor class, non-competitive, or exempt employees who were terminated and are interested in resuming city service must contact the head of human resources at their prior agency by Dec. 5. Those terminated from New York City Public Schools should contact NYCPSServicereturn2025@schools.nyc.gov. Those terminated from NYCHA should contact HR.Laborel@nycha.nyc.gov.
