Businesses have until after the holidays to implement Biden Covid vaccine mandate.
The vaccine deadline is now January 4th to match the deadline set for other private companies and health-care providers. The Biden administration is pushing out a new federal rule that also gives employees the option of being tested weekly if they refuse to be vaccinated. The new mandate also demand employers must provide paid time off for workers' shots. All un-vaccinated workers must begin wearing masks by December 5th. President Biden has previously imposed vaccine requirements on federal workers and companies that receive federal contracts.
Some major companies including Tyson Foods and United Airlines were quick to embrace mandates, spurred by the president’s announcement in September. But many others have held off, citing the need for clarification from the government on a range of questions, including who will pay for testing and whether the rule applies to employees who work at home, according to The New York Times.
OSHA, which polices workplace safety for the Labor Department, will provide sample implementation plans and fact sheets among other materials to help companies adopt the new rules.