Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Businesses Must Rush To Implement Mandates During Holiday Season
CNBC: Several Big Business Groups Aren’t Happy With Biden’s Covid Vaccine Mandate
Several business groups expressed concern about President Joe Biden’s Covid vaccine mandate on Thursday, arguing that the requirements will burden businesses during the busy holiday season as they rush to meet an implementation deadline that comes shortly after New Year’s day. The mandate, which applies to businesses with 100 or more workers, requires U.S. companies to ensure their employees have gotten vaccinated, or face regular testing, by Jan. 4. However, all unvaccinated workers must start wearing masks indoors a month earlier on Dec. 5, according to the new rules issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, under the Labor Department. (Breuninger and Josephs, 11/4)
The Hill: Business Groups Split Over Biden Vaccine-Or-Test Mandate
The HR Policy Association, which represents hundreds of large employers, said Thursday that it is “encouraged by the compliance flexibility given to employers” in the final rule, which will cover around 84 million workers. Other groups, particularly retailers, are less positive, stating that the requirements will impede the upcoming holiday shopping season that is already being ravaged by supply chain issues and workforce shortages. The Retail Industry Leaders Association, which is backed by retail giants such as Target and CVS Health, lamented Thursday that the rule will go into effect in 60 days rather than the 90 days it had requested. (Evers-Hillstrom, 11/4)
CNN: Some Companies And States Are Fighting The Federal Rules. But Local Efforts Show Mandates Can Work
With the Biden administration's new timeline for mandating vaccinations or weekly testing for those working at private businesses with 100 or more employees, critics in the public and private sectors are quickly positioning themselves against the measure. The rules, long-anticipated in an effort to get further ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic that has now killed more than 750,000 Americans since early 2020, will take effect January 4. Multiple states have declared they will take the issue to court. (Caldwell, 11/5)
Bloomberg: Biden’s COVID-19 Mandate For Business Could Make Hiring Even Harder
President Joe Biden’s call for companies to enact Covid-19 vaccine or testing requirements is likely to exacerbate the labor shortage at some U.S. firms. The Labor Department said Thursday that companies with 100 or more employees will need to have all staff vaccinated or regularly tested for Covid-19. It set a Jan. 4 deadline. Failure to comply could trigger fines of as much as $136,000. The government is seeking to make workplaces safer as it tries to stop the spread of the virus, which slowed the economy last quarter. It said the measure will increase protections for 84 million workers.
AP: What Vaccine Mandate Means For Firms And Workers
The Biden administration’s sweeping new COVID-19 mandate will apply to 84 million workers at mid-size and large companies. President Joe Biden described the rules issued Thursday as urgently needed to get more Americans inoculated. Though confirmed viral cases and deaths have fallen sharply since the start of the year, they remain dangerously high, especially in some areas and industries. Average case numbers have leveled off at about 70,000 new infections a day and confirmed viral deaths at more than 1,200 a day. (Krisher and Wiseman, 11/5)
Axios: The Jobs Impact Of Biden's Vax And Testing Mandate
This should significantly increase the number of vaccinated American adults, thus reducing death and virus transmission. It also could create a relatively small group of workers who are voluntarily unemployed. (Primack, 11/5)
Dallas Morning News: American Airlines Pushes Back Vaccine Mandate Until After Holidays On New White House Deadline
American Airlines pushed back its deadline for employees to get COVID-19 vaccinations by more than a month after the White House released updated rules Thursday that aligns the mandated start for both federal contractors and businesses with more than 100 employees. American Airlines’ 100,000 workers will now have until Jan. 4 to turn in proof of vaccination or get an exemption. The carrier also will extend the window for employees who do get vaccinated to receive an extra day of vacation next year and a $50 voucher, according to a memo from CEO Doug Parker and President Robert Isom. (Arnold, 11/4)
