Office Entry: For Contract Worker Suppliers

On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, a U.S. federal court issued a nationwide order to pause the U.S. federal executive order vaccine mandate that was set to go into effect on January 4, 2022.

Considering this legal update, Cisco's worker eligibility policy for U.S. contingent workers has been updated in accordance with applicable law effective immediately as follows: 

• Onsite Vaccination Requirements - All contingent workers who visit a Cisco office in person, visit customer locations onsite, and/or travel on behalf of Cisco for work, must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or receive an approved accommodation by you, their employer. The contingent worker's eligibility status must be communicated through Fieldglass or by using this form, as previously communicated.
• Pause in Contingent Worker Eligibility Requirement - Because of this pause, Cisco will not require suppliers to replace contingent workers who do not have their status updated by January 4, 2022. Cisco will allow U.S.-based contingent workers who are marked "ineligible" in our platforms to continue remote work until such time we communicate the return to office policy.
• Contingent Worker Return to Office Requirements - When Cisco requires that a contingent worker's role return to office, the contingent worker must meet Cisco's worker eligibility policy by submitting proof of vaccination to you, or by obtaining a religious or medical accommodation by you, their employer. The worker's eligibility status must be input into Cisco platforms before your worker returns to the office. 
• Cisco Customer Requirements - Based on Cisco customer requirements, Cisco may require suppliers to provide only vaccinated workers in certain locations.

If you have any questions or need additional support, please email us at C-Worker Eligibility Support. We are here to help.

The following regions have vaccine and worker eligibility guidelines in place. All requirements detailed below are in addition to and subject to any applicable local laws and regulations. 

Australia and New Zealand

• Suppliers with workers who access an Australian or New Zealand (ANZ) Cisco office or partner/customer premises were required to submit confirmation of vaccination status (supplier attestation on their resources) using this form by November 24, 2021.  
• Workers must be fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation and a business-critical need to travel or meet with customers or partners in person. 

Action for Suppliers

• Ensure you have submitted the smartsheet form individually for each worker.
• Ensure your resources follow safety protocols as required.

Canada

• Suppliers with workers who access a Canada Cisco office must submit verification of vaccination status/documentation or an approved medical or religious accommodation using this form.
• Beginning January 17, 2022, Cisco badge access will be turned off for all contingent workers unless verification of eligibility has been provided by the supplier by January 7, 2022.    
• Workers must be fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation and a business-critical need to travel or meet with customers or partners in person.   
• For all eligible workers approved to work onsite now or in the future, suppliers are responsible to audit worker eligibility status and report their findings to Cisco using this form at least 5 days prior to the worker activation in Fieldglass.   

Accommodation process

• Contingent workers who are unable to meet the vaccination requirement can request a medical or religious accommodation through you, their employer.  
• If approved, this accommodation will allow them to come to a Cisco site, travel, or visit customers and/or partners in person. However, they must follow all other onsite safety protocols for the site or location, such as testing, masking, and physical distancing, and they must comply with any customer/partner vaccination requirements. 

India

• Beginning January 17, 2022, Cisco badge access will be turned off for all contingent workers unless vaccination status is updated in Fieldglass by the supplier. 
• Workers must be fully vaccinated and have a business-critical need to travel or meet with customers or partners in person.
• In the event government authorities require Cisco to provide supporting documentation of workers' vaccination status, the supplier will need to share the required documentation upon request.
• Suppliers with India-based contingent workers who access a Cisco office or partner/customer premises in India must update the vaccination status of their contingent workers in Fieldglass by January 7, 2022. 

Please follow the steps below to update a worker’s status:

Step 1: Login into Fieldglass 

Step 2: Click "View -> Worker"

Step 3: Search for the worker and Open Worker Record by clicking ID field (Example: CSCOWK******* / OCSCWK****** / CSCOPW******) 

Step 4: Click "Actions -> Edit Worker"

Step5: Input Worker Eligibility and Click "Update"

Puerto Rico 

Please refer to the U.S. Cisco worker vaccination policy section for the latest information affecting Puerto Rico-based contingent workers.      

Please continue to check back here to find updated policies and deadlines by region as they become available. 

For those with internal site access, you can refer to the office entry page for office entry status.

Only vaccinated workers on the critical worker list are approved to work onsite, following the critical worker onsite booking process (internal available link). If your worker is accessing a Cisco site, they will be required at minimum to wear a face covering, use the Cisco self-screening app to self-check for symptoms daily, review the training and take the test, and follow any local regulatory training requirements. The regulatory COVID-19 control plans and training by your location can be found on this internal only link. More information on our return to office strategy can be found at this internal only link. 

Is Cisco planning to pursue a hybrid approach?

Visit the Pandemic Planning site for more details on Cisco’s hybrid work strategy and approach.

What criteria will Cisco use to determine when workers will begin returning to the office?

All decisions regarding extending access to our offices and resuming travel, meetings, and events will be informed by the health and safety of our workers and based on scientific and medical data, official guidance, and business needs.

Which teams are likely the first to return to the office?

Return to office decisions will be made on a phased basis with workers who are performing duties that are deemed critical infrastructure or mission critical prioritized according to business need. As part of a return to office plan for a specific location, workers who are part of the return will be identified by Cisco’s leadership team and a site communication will be sent with guidelines about workplace measures at their location.

Why are some sites returning in phase one while others are not within the same country?

Only sites where Cisco leaders have identified mission critical workers will be included in phase one for each country/state. We anticipate gradually increasing the sites and number of people that return over the coming weeks and months and appreciate your patience as we continue to work towards this. Check this site regularly for updates on future openings.

If you have a worker returning to the office in phase one, how will that worker be informed about the new working arrangements and measures in place at their worksite?

All workers identified as returning to a worksite in phase one will receive an email detailing the actions they need to take before they return as well as specific information relating to their worksite. Actions to take before returning include the completion of mandatory training and details on how to self-check daily for common symptoms of COVID-19 using either the Cisco Office Pass app or another specified process. Information relating to your worker’s worksite will include opening hours, service availability, physical distancing and hygiene guidelines, and local contacts. It is very important that the worker read this information carefully.

Please note that if the worker has not been identified as needing to return in phase one, they should not come onsite. If your worker is not included in this phase and needs to come onsite, please discuss your request with your Cisco leader. If your worker is added to the list of mission critical workers for their site, you will receive an email detailing the actions and information outlined above. No worker should go to a worksite without completing mandatory training, having in place the app or other processes to conduct a daily self-check, and reading and understanding the information relating to their worksite.

What if you have a worker that has concerns about going back into the office?

As more and more locations open, it will be important for more contract workers to return to the office to support the business. At the same time, we know that some workers may be concerned about returning. We ask that all supplier employers and associated contract workers stay informed by closely reading site-specific communications and that the contract worker stay informed through the internal pandemic planning site. If the contract worker has been identified as needing to return, it’s important to understand the many health and safety protocols Cisco is putting in place. Concern should be directed to our C-Worker support mailer at: c-worker_program_team@cisco.com.

You have a worker not on the list to return to the office during phase one, but that worker needs access to that site. what do you do?

If you need to access a Cisco office and do not have mission critical approval to come onsite during the current phase, please reach out to the C-Worker support mailer at: c-worker_program_team@cisco.com. Your request will be assessed by the team responsible for managing site occupancy rates and if approved, guidelines for accessing the worksite will be provided in advance. Depending on location and local regulations, you may be asked to use a different app, this will be communicated to you before your return.

How long will Cisco be operating at a reduced capacity in our offices and with additional measures in place?

Cisco has a planned, phased approach to extending access to sites, however, the timeline involved will vary country by country and, in some cases, site by site. We will only move forward to the next phase after considering all of the criteria (legal, medical, individual concerns, and government regulations), and we may need to revert to a previous phase if the situation locally deteriorates, i.e. there is a second wave of the pandemic. The measures in place will evolve as the situation continues to develop and in line with all applicable regulations and medical advice.

When will Cisco offices reopen?

Cisco is using a planned, phased approach to return to the office. However, the timescale involved will vary from country to country and, in some cases, from site to site. Cisco will only move forward to the next phase of office entry after considering all the criteria (legal, medical, employee concerns, and government regulations), and we may need to revert to a previous phase if the local situation deteriorates. 

The measures in place will evolve in line with all applicable regulations and medical advice as the situation continues to develop. 

Cisco will have additional updates and information on these processes into 2022.

When will noncritical resources be allowed to return to Cisco offices?

As we continue to monitor the evolving landscape of the pandemic, we will carefully consider the return to office of noncritical resources and will continue to update you as new information becomes available.

Are visitors to Cisco offices allowed?

Visitors must be preregistered by their Cisco host in the visitor management system (VMS). Currently and where permitted by law, visitors must always bring their own face covering and wear it at all times while onsite. 

Hosts are responsible for the preregistration of visitors, for ensuring they have received and understood Cisco visitor requirements, and for their compliance while onsite.

What measures are in place to protect workers returning to the office?

All contractors will need to complete mandatory online training that outlines the workplace measures in effect before returning to the office. Workers must self-screen to check for potential virus symptoms before going to the office daily via a self-service app. Signage throughout each site will communicate how to navigate the new workplace.

Must face coverings be worn on site?

At least for phase 1 and where permitted by local law, face coverings are a minimum Cisco standard for occupants of Cisco properties while in areas where social distancing is not possible or is difficult. More specific measures or personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements will be compliant with local requirements. Cisco will make required materials available to workers returning to the worksite at Cisco locations.

What cleaning protocols will be in place?

Enhanced cleaning protocols will be in place, including surface cleaning, floor cleaning, localized aerosol misting, and other techniques as required. The frequency of these protocols will vary based on local requirements, occupancy, and by situation.

What happens if a case of COVID-19 is confirmed in my building?

If a building occupant has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, appropriate response teams will be engaged to investigate and deem necessary cleaning, building closure decisions, and communications needs.

If my worker has a suspected case of diagnosed with COVID-19, who do I reach out to?

Please email cce-casemgrs@cisco.com as soon as this is known.

If my worker has been in close contact (6 feet for more than 10 minutes) with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and has been in contact with other Cisco-related personnel (employees, other contract workers, partners or customers), who do I reach out to?

Please email cce-casemgrs@cisco.com as soon as this is known.

If I want to inform Cisco of a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 related to a Cisco staff member, customer or at a partner site, who do I reach out to?

Please email cce-casemgrs@cisco.com as soon as this is known.

Please see the Pandemic Planning site for more details on the testing protocol.