The Biden administration will require companies to offer paid time off for employees that receive COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Associated Press reports that the mandate will be applicable for all companies with at least 100 workers. The new rule was proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and reviewed by the White House budget office. It’s expected to be published in the Federal Register this week, according to the AP.
“Covered employers must develop, implement, and enforce a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy,” a Labor Department spokesperson said, “unless they adopt a policy requiring employees to choose either to get vaccinated or to undergo regular COVID-19 testing and wear a face covering at work.”
OSHA’s policy will require large U.S.-based companies to provide their employees with paid time off to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and recover from any vaccine side effects.
The AP said the administration will release further details at a later date.
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File
Separately, the administration will give federal contractors broad authority on how to treat employees who refuse to be vaccinated, according to guidelines that the White House issued Monday.
Under an executive order that President Joe Biden issued in September, contractors have until Dec. 8 to ensure that employees are fully vaccinated. The order has met resistance from some workers at large employers with federal contracts, including American Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The CEO of Southwest said his airline would not fire anybody for refusing to get the shots.
