OSHA Issues COVID-19 Workplace Vaccine and Testing Mandate Guidance

 On November 6, 2021, a U.S. federal appeals court issued a stay temporarily blocking the president’s new COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing policy, citing “grave statutory and constitutional” issues with the rule.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) regarding the COVID-19 workplace vaccine mandate that is expected to be published tomorrow, November 5, 2021.

Read the Full OSHA ETS Summary Here

Businesses with at least 100 employees must develop, implement, and enforce a mandatory policy that their employees get vaccinated against the coronavirus or wear a mask and test for COVID-19 weekly.

  • Unvaccinated workers must start wearing masks beginning December 5, 2021.
  • Unvaccinated workers must provide negative COVID-19 tests weekly beginning January 4, 2022.
  • Companies are required to provide paid time off to be vaccinated and sick leave to recover from any side effects.
  • Companies are not required to pay for or provide the tests unless they are otherwise required to by state or local laws or in labor union contracts.

Federal Workers
The deadline for federal employees and contractors to be fully vaccinated has been postponed to January 4, 2022.

Health Care Workers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing the details of its requirement that health care workers at facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid are fully vaccinated. READ MORE HERE

Suttle & Stalnaker is monitoring these COVID-19 Workplace Vaccine developments and will provide additional updates as further guidance is released. We are also monitoring local and state law changes.

Contact your S&S representative or one of our offices with questions about the COVID-19 Workplace Vaccine.