White House Announces Executive Orders Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines for Federal and Private Workforce
President Biden issued two Executive Orders (EOs) on September 9, 2021, that created mandates related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both of the EOs raise many unanswered questions about how the mandates will be implemented. While we do not have all answers to these questions presently since details are still forthcoming, PRINTING United Alliance will monitor the situation closely, and when the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) is issued, PRINTING United Alliance will produce a Vaccine Testing Plan that will provide processes and procedures to help companies comply with the mandates.
OSHA is directed to issue a new ETS mandating that qualifying companies require employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, and to perform testing for those who cannot or will not agree to vaccination. An ETS is a directive that can be created only if OSHA determines that workers are in grave danger due to certain toxic substances or new hazards. An ETS will go into effect immediately upon publication, which is typically within a day or two of issuance and will remain in effect until it is superseded by a permanent standard or until it automatically expires in six months. The Agency has indicated that an enforcement grace period will be in effect to allow companies time to comply.
The EOs direct the agency to require private employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated for COVID-19, or to require employees who are not fully vaccinated to be tested for COVID-19 at least once each week for the employee to be allowed to work. OSHA is not expected to issue the ETS earlier than mid-October, when it will be effective immediately upon publication, which is generally within days of issuance. Once issued, the ETS will likely be challenged in federal courts and those lawsuits may result in delayed implementation. Despite this possibility, companies should be prepared with policies and procedures by the effective date.
On September 29, at 2:00 ET, Adriane Harrison, VP of Human Relations Consulting and Gary Jones, Director of Environmental, Health, and Safety Affairs, PRINTING United Alliance, will have a webinar to discuss the mandates, address questions they raise, what will happen next, and what you can do to prepare. Registration is free for both PRINTING United Alliance members and non-members, so save your spot today! Register here.
Once OSHA issues the ETS, PRINTING United Alliance will have available a comprehensive resource guide about how to comply with the mandate. PRINTING United Alliance subject matter experts will provide complete information about what is being required and how employers can meet responsibilities related to the new vaccination mandate.
In the interim, PRINTING United Alliance member companies who have further questions can contact Adriane Harrison at: aharrison@printing.org, or Gary Jones at: gjones@printing.org; or call 888-385-3588. Not a member? Join today!
Adriane Harrison is Vice President, Human Relations Consulting at PRINTING United Alliance. Adriane assists members with a wide variety of HR matters involving statutes, regulations, policies, procedures, culture, and staffing, as well as the gamut of day-to-day HR issues. In addition, she supports professional development by conducting webinars, participating in panel discussions, and speaking at industry events on human resources issues. Currently, Adriane is the Chairperson of the Graphic Communications Workforce Coalition, a member of the Women in Print Alliance, and a founder of the Women’s Print Mentoring Network.
Adriane received a journalism degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from DePaul University in Chicago. As an attorney, Adriane practiced in both the public and private sectors. Her work was in the areas of Constitutional, commercial, securities, and criminal law. Adriane and her family live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
