New Employer Covid-19 Vaccine and Testing Rules Unveiled by FedGov

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Employer Covid-19 Vaccine and Testing Rules Unveiled by Biden Administration

Wall Street Journal

Many employers will have to ensure by early 2022 that their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly for Covid-19 under a set of new vaccine requirements by the Biden administration that will cover more than 80 million employees.

The requirements released Thursday by the Labor Department implement a vaccine directive that President Biden announced in September. They take effect Jan. 4 and apply to employers with 100 or more employees. While the administration has said the requirements are necessary to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, they have drawn opposition from many Republicans.

Companies subject to the rules must ensure that employees who aren’t vaccinated against Covid-19 produce a negative test at least weekly and wear a mask in the workplace. Employers aren’t required under the new policy to provide or pay for tests, with potential exceptions if collective bargaining agreements compel them to do so.

Employers who don’t adhere to the requirements could face penalties of up to around $13,600 per violation.

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“We’ve been patient,” Mr. Biden said in a message to unvaccinated Americans while announcing the requirements in September. “But our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us.”

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I'm team Pfizer....but I'm more than a little uncomfortable with sweeping, authoritarian mandates and fines imposed on employers that are designed to hit the livelihoods of people who choose not to get the vaccine. It's not the government's business IMO, but that's probably just my age talking.

But be prepared. If your company hasn't communicated these new requirements to you yet, they are coming by January 4th of 2022. Otherwise they are paying a hefty fine for every single violation.