In August, President Biden announced a vaccination mandate for private employers with more than 100 employees, but no details were provided at the time. Instead, the administration indicated that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would release the new requirements on a later date.
On Thursday, OSHA outlined the requirements under the mandate. Private employers are required to have a plan to implement the mandate 30 days after the final rule is published in the Federal Register. Employers must have their employees vaccinated or in a testing regimen within 60 days of the rule’s publication.
Among other requirements, the OSHA mandate requires that employers provide paid time off for those employees who are vaccinated during working hours. Additionally, all large employers must have a plan in place to remove employees in the case of a positive COVID test result to prevent further infection among staff. OSHA has created a model plan and a frequently asked questions page to assist organizations as they implement their plans.
The League is currently reviewing the contents of the OSHA ground rules and will work CUNA in getting the best guidance out to credit unions. In the meantime, credit unions should use the OSHA resources to help them prepare for the December effective date. The League’s Governmental Affairs Team is ready to assist during this time of preparation and implementation. Please email Robert Caverly at rcaverly@mainecul.org or Ellen Parent at eparent@mainecul.org for assistance.