***IMPORTANT UPDATE: A three-judge panel from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has lifted the stay on the OSHA vaccine-or-test mandate (the Emergency Temporary Standard, or ETS), which applies to employers with 100 or more employees.
Lifting the stay means the ETS is in immediate effect and employers should prepare to comply.The first compliance deadline was December 6 (for policies, notices, masking, vaccination status, etc.), and employers were to begin testing unvaccinated employees by January 4. However, OSHA recognizes that compliance in such a short period is not feasible for many employers, so has said the following about enforcement:
“To provide employers with sufficient time to come into compliance, OSHA will not issue citations for noncompliance with any requirements of the ETS before January 10 and will not issue citations for noncompliance with the standard’s testing requirements before February 9, so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard. OSHA will work closely with the regulated community to provide compliance assistance.”
On Nov. 4, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an ETS for Covid-19 Vaccination and Testing to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace. Here is a summary of important requirements.
Under the new ETS, private employers with 100 or more employees are required to have all employees vaccinated must also ensure that their employees have received all of the necessary shots by the deadline. Unvaccinated employees are also required to produce negative Covid tests on a weekly basis.
Understand the Definition of Covered Employer. If your business falls within the scope of the ETS 100-employee threshold on the effective date,
Create a Written Employer Vaccination Policy. The ETS requires covered employers to develop, implement, and enforce a mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy for all employees or a policy that allows employees to elect between vaccination or providing required proof of regular Covid-19 testing and wearing a face covering while at the workplace.
Determine Employee Vaccination Status. Covered employers must track each employee's vaccination status (partial, full, or unvaccinated), obtain acceptable proof of that status, and maintain records and a roster of each employee’s status.
Employers must also ensure that each employee, not fully vaccinated, be tested for Covid-19 on a weekly basis if the employee is in the workplace at least once a week. If the employee is away from the workplace for a week or longer, then the employee must be tested within seven days before allowed to return to work.
The ETS does not require employers to pay for costs associated with testing. However, employers may be required to cover testing under other laws, regulations, or other collective bargaining and negotiated agreements.
Review Acceptable Methods of Proof of Vaccination Status. Under the ETS, acceptable methods of proof of vaccination status include:
Reporting Covid-19 Fatalities and Hospitalizations to OSHA. The ETS requires employers to report work-related Covid-19 fatalities to OSHA within 8 hours of the incident and work-related Covid-19 in-patient hospitalizations within 24 hours.
Make Records Available. The ETS requires employers to provide employees with vaccine documentation and related test results and the total number of employees, including the total of fully vaccinated employees, at the workplace.
Understand Requirements for Paid Time-Off for Vaccinations and Testing. Under the ETS, employers must provide employees up to four hours of paid time off in order to receive each dose of the vaccine, in addition to reasonable time and paid sick leave to recover from any side effects. Employers are not required to provide paid time off to employees who receive a positive test result. However, it may be required under state and other laws.
Review Requirements for Face Coverings. The ETS requires employers to ensure that employees, who are not fully vaccinated, wear a face covering when indoors or
Distribute Required Information to Employees. Under the ETS, employers must provide employees with the following information:
Because OSHA may revise or update the ETS as the pandemic continues to evolve, it's important to consult your legal counsel and HR advisors to understand your responsibilities and how it applies to your business. In addition, it’s important for all employers to stay up to date on any new developments, resources, and changes that may impact workplace safety.
For more information and the full text of the new OSHA Vaccination and Testing ETS, visit www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2.
PLEASE NOTE: This information is for general reference purposes only. As we continue to work during the pandemic, laws, regulations, and filing deadlines are likely to change. Please check with the appropriate organizations or government agencies for the latest information and consult your employment attorney and/or benefits advisor regarding your responsibilities. In addition, your company may be exempt from certain requirements and/or be subject to different requirements under the laws of your state. (Updated Dec. 22, 2021)
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