“You have to leave now, Barbara.” My team hustled me out of the office. That was Thursday, March 12, 2020. Friday, March 13, 2020, the rest of my staff left our office building, and none of us
returned. March 2020 was all about evacuation. I know my personal office experience is shared throughout our industry. Now, many of you who have had physical offices have decided to go remote permanently. Seismic change in one year.
March 2021 is all about vaccinations: who’s gotten one; who’s trying to get one; who’s not getting one. I’m happy to report your Pandemic President and spouse are vaccinated (one of the benefits of advanced age!) As of May 1, the US President has announced that every adult will be able to register with no restrictions. This news is SO good for our industry. We need to be safe. Our caregivers need to be safe. Our families need to be safe.
It was most galling to us that while childcare workers were deemed essential workers, they did not qualify for vaccines in the 1B category—and in some cases in any priority category. So, just how essential is essential? I understand the equities issues. A childcare worker in an institution is caring for more children than a nanny for a single family. But there was no real clarity of this as nannies tried to sign up. In Virginia, they could. In DC, no. In Maryland, yes, but only at certain locations. Following all these updates has become part of our jobs. As agencies, it is important to provide our nannies and clients with the best information we can find for them. That is the value added of working with a good agency.
Many parents are going to want nannies to be vaccinated. As we learned in the APNA webinar with Harry Jones, our General Counsel from Littler, we can encourage nannies to get vaccinated, but we can’t require them. Families will make their own decisions on whom to hire. My guess is some decisions will be based on geography and politics. Depending on where you operate, the client demand and requirements may vary. Agencies will take different approaches.
We are about to have more daylight—both literally and figuratively. Our businesses are picking up. We are even considering hiring internally to meet the new demand. All good signs. Stay well. Get vaccinated. Keep wearing those masks in public.
Best,
Your Pandemic President
Barbara Kline