The Biden administration today announced the expected new OSHA rule mandating COVID-19 vaccines for companies with 100 or more employees.
Here are the details:
- Employees must either be fully vaccinated by January 4 or be tested weekly for COVID-19. Employees who test positive must be removed from the workplace.
- Employers must provide paid time off for employees to get vaccinated and, if necessary, sick leave to recover from side effects.
- Employers do not have to pay for tests for unvaccinated workers, unless other laws or collective bargaining agreements stipulate this requirement.
- All unvaccinated workers must wear a mask at work.
Companies that don’t comply are subject to standard OSHA penalties, which are currently $13,653 per violation.
Many food and beverage companies, including Tyson Foods and Coca-Cola, have already mandated that their workers get vaccinated.
For more information about the rule, read the OSHA FAQs.