On Thursday, November 4, the Biden administration announced that OSHA‘s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 vaccination and testing, applying to private businesses with 100 or more employees, will take effect November 5, 2021.
All ETS requirements except testing must be met by December 5, 2021. The testing requirements must be complied with by January 4, 2022.
What does this mean for covered employers?
- “Two-thirds of American workers” will now be covered by vaccination rules, according to a release from the White House.
- Covered employers are required to provide paid-time for their employees to get vaccinated, and provide sick leave for employees to recover from side effects of vaccination, if needed.
- Unvaccinated employees will be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test on a weekly basis. Unvaccinated employees will also be required to wear masks.
- Covered employers are subject to requirements for reporting and recordkeeping.
Leech Tishman Employment & Labor Practice Group attorneys Philip Toomey and Leah Sell discuss the potential impact of these updates and what steps employers should take to effectively prepare for the new rule.
You can access the PowerPoint slides by clicking here. Watch the recording below.