Millions of Americans will now need to be tested weekly for COVID-19 or get have the vaccine starting Jan. 4, 2022. The mandate went into effect Thursday.
OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said companies that fail to comply with the mandate face penalties of $14,000 for each violation. The agency will target companies it receives complaints about.
This will impact 84 million employees in the American workforce. Workers do have the ability to request medical or religious exemptions.
The rules are under emergency authority and the mandate is allowed because it protects employees from “an imminent health hazard.”
At the same time, Republican states are suing President Joe Biden and his administration over the mandate.
Many companies are worried they’ll be hit with even worse staffing shortages once workers who don’t want to be vaccinated quit.
Related: Multiple states sue President Joe Biden’s administration over national COVID-19 vaccine mandate
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