On November 4, 2021, OSHA announced a COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS) to address the grave danger of COVID-19 infection in the workplace. The ETS affects private sector employers with 100 or more employees.
The ETS requires employers to develop and implement a written COVID-19 policy. The policy needs to specify whether employers will require employee vaccination or allow for weekly testing. In addition, employers will need to determine the vaccination status and obtain acceptable proof of vaccination for each employee; create and maintain a roster of each employee’s vaccination status; follow notification procedures for positive COVID-19 cases; and ensure unvaccinated employees wear masks in the workplace.
Employers must provide employees paid time off to receive and recover from each primary vaccination dose. Employers will also need to immediately remove employees who report positive COVID-19 tests or diagnoses until return-to-work criteria are met. Finally, while the ETS does not require employers to cover the cost of screening tests, employers should be aware of local laws or other collectively negotiated agreements that may dictate otherwise.
Employees who are not fully vaccinated must be tested weekly or within seven days before returning to work. Employees must provide documentation of their test results to their employer. The ETS prohibits employees from administering and reading their own tests. Employee home tests must be proctored by a telehealth professional or the employer. Employers should review the testing regulations to make sure they are in compliance with all ETS requirements.
OSHA has resumed ETS implementation and enforcement nationwide.
The agency changed the effective dates of the ETS to January 10, 2022 (February 9, 2022, for testing requirements).
Employers subject to the ETS should monitor legal developments closely and consider what measures they would need to adopt if the Supreme Court upholds the ETS.
Insurance services provided by CoverEase Insurance Services, LLC and its licensed agents and affiliates. The information contained within these materials are confidential and not to be distributed. Descriptions are general in nature only. Please refer to the terms and conditions of policies offered or purchased. Insurance products are subject to application and underwriting requirements. Pricing depends on a variety of factors including policyholder location. Not all discounts available in all states. Not all products available in all states. Use of and access to this information, site or any of the links contained within this site does not create a relationship between the user and CoverEase. © 2022 CoverEase, Inc. All Rights Reserved.