Eli Richardson
Novemeber 28, 2021
The deadline for workers in the U.S. to be vaccinated or tested weekly is approaching, January 4th, 2022. However, legal challenges continue to linger making it difficult for companies to know how they should prepare.
The rules are set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA. The mandate states that private businesses with over 100 employees must ensure their employees get fully vaccinated or undergo weekly testing for Covid-19 and also wear masks while at work. OSHA would have the power to fine companies for noncompliance and the emergency standard could stay in place for as long as six months before it would need to be written permanently into the code.
Uncertainty about legal challenges is the main difficulty for businesses trying to comply and implement systems for compliance. Before there was going to be a mandate many companies were already looking to implement varying degrees of vaccine requirements. Implementation has had several issues. One example is if they should take a firm stance by requiring the vaccine or if they should let individuals who do not wish to get vaccinated to take the weekly tests and mask up in the office.
As for right now companies will continue to plan as if there will be a mandate and do all they can to be in compliance, but should also be cautious to not financially commit too much towards testing compliance programs until these cases brought against the emergence temporary standard play out. Companies should also make sure there is clear communication from management to employees on how the company plans to proceed.
Source: (The Wall Street Journal)
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