On Monday, the Biden Administration argued that the federal government had all the authority it needed to require large employers to mandate vaccination of their workers against the COVID-19 virus, according to The New York Times.
On Monday, the Biden administration argued that the federal government had all the authority it needed to require large employers to mandate vaccination of their workers against the COVID-19 virus. (Photo: New York Times)
Businesses COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
On Saturday, President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine and testing requirements for private businesses were temporarily suspended by a federal appeals court. Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Utah have all filed appeals in the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals against this mandate.
However, according to the White House, despite an appeals court order temporarily halting the rules, businesses should continue with President Joe Biden’s vaccine and testing requirements for private businesses.
OSHA’s new vaccination requirements, which were issued earlier this year, affect businesses with at least 100 employees. According to Newsweek, workers who have not received their COVID-19 vaccinations by January 4 will be required to wear masks and submit to weekly testing. OSHA sends agents to conduct inspections to ensure that businesses are adhering to its mandate. If a business is found to be in violation, a fine of $136,532 could be imposed.
Read Also: Businesses Lying About Vaccine Status Is Punishable, Here’s How Much Is The Fine
On Saturday, President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine and testing requirements for private businesses were temporarily suspended by a federal appeals court. Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Utah have all filed appeals in the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals against this mandate. However, according to the White House, despite an appeals court order temporarily halting the rules, businesses should continue with President Joe Biden’s vaccine and testing requirements for private businesses (Photo: Chuck Bigger/Alamy Live News)
The Mandate Was Necessary
The Justice Department argued in a 28-page filing before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that the rule was necessary to protect workers from the pandemic and was well-grounded in law. At least 26 states have filed lawsuits to stop the mandate, claiming constitutional violations and federal overreach.
The Biden Administration responded to the court’s pause request on Monday evening, claiming that the claims of harm made by the states and corporations were premature given the fact that the deadlines for vaccination and testing do not expire until January, as per CNBC. As the virus spreads, the administration asserted that suspending the requirements would likely result in the loss of dozens or even hundreds of lives per day.
Employers should not wait for legal challenges to be resolved before forcing their employees to get vaccinated or submit themselves for weekly testing, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday, per The New York Times.
She argued that the mandate was necessary to protect workers from becoming infected with the coronavirus, which had already killed more than 750,000 Americans and was causing approximately 1,300 deaths per day in the United States.
Read Related Article: Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Halts Biden’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate For Businesses
