US President Joe Biden and his administration have largely promoted the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. This time, in an effort to get more people back into the workforce, Biden is set to announce vaccine mandates for large businesses.
Biden is set to announce a new federal policy that would require large businesses in the private sector to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations otherwise face weekly testing for coronavirus. The temporary rule would apply to businesses with 100 or more employees. This would impact around 80 million Americans.
The details of what would likely be the most contentious policy from the Biden administration are set to be released Thursday. The details were drafted by the Labor Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Administration or OSHA. This also marks the first time Washington has rendered a respiratory virus an occupational hazard outside the healthcare sector.
“It’s the biggest thing OSHA has ever done in terms of the number of workers it will cover,” said Jordan Barab, who was a top official in the agency during the Obama administration.
Union and industry groups have yet to see a draft of the new policy. When the policy would take effect is among the questions that would likely be raised, as Republicans have warned that mandates done ahead of the coming holidays would worsen the labor shortage.
It has yet to be determined how long the mandate would be in place as well as if it would also apply to short-term “gig” workers such as freelancers and Uber drivers or smaller franchises of nationwide chains. How employers will be expected to enforce the mandate is another concern that would be raised.
In other related news, Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden honored the holiday of Diwali Thursday as they shared their greetings to those who celebrate the holiday. This also comes as lawmakers are planning to introduce legislation that would make Diwali a federal holiday in the US, also known as the Deepavali Day Act. Biden shared a photo of them lighting the ceremonial lamp on Twitter.
“May the light of Diwali remind us that from darkness, there is knowledge, wisdom, and truth. From division, unity. From despair, hope. To Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists celebrating in America and around the world — From the People’s House to yours, happy Diwali,” Biden tweeted.
Vice president Kamala Harris also shared a video message.