The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will suspend the implementation of an employer vaccine mandate immediately. For now, it will not enforce an executive order issued by President Joe Biden that mandates COVID vaccinations for companies with 100 or more workers.
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OSHA To Suspend Enforcement Of Employer Vaccine Mandate
In a statement posted on their website, OSHA said that the judiciary has spoken. The agency will “take no steps to implement or enforce” the Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) until further advice. While the agency said it will abide by the court’s suspension order, it “remains confident in its authority to protect workers.” Earlier, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a stay on Biden’s employer vaccine mandate. Originally, OSHA gave notice to employers with more than 100 employees about the employer vaccine mandate. Companies have until January 4 to comply with the mandate. Those who fail to do so face thousands of dollars in hefty fines for every day of non-compliance.
Justice Department Said It Will Defend OSHA Guidelines
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor issued a statement in response to the court’s suspension order. It said that the department will vigorously defend the OSHA rules on the employer vaccine mandate. Meanwhile, a Department of Labor official maintained that OSHA will remain on the sidelines for now. “OSHA is complying with the 5th Circuit’s stay. OSHA is not enforcing or implementing the reg – so they are not engaging or offering compliance assistance,” he said. Prior to the suspension, OSHA planned to assist employers in coming up with vaccine and testing standards. Fines for non-complying companies can total as much as $14,000 per violation. OSHA can cite individual businesses with multiple citations if necessary. In addition, the White House already moved the deadline for the employer vaccine deadline. From the original December 8 deadline, Biden gave employers until January 4.
Republican Lawmakers Push Back Against Employer Vaccine Mandate
Meanwhile, several Republican lawmakers from the House and the Senate are pushing back against the White House vaccine efforts. Joined by GOP governors and state officials, the group is moving to get the courts to strike down Biden’s vaccine mandate orders. In fact, a large group of GOP state attorneys general filed suit against another vaccine mandate involving federal contractors.Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) will lead the entire Republican senator contingent to disallow the employer vaccine mandate. “President Biden’s vaccine mandate is an unconstitutional invasion,” he said. Vaccines “should be a personal medical decision for every American and an affront to the rights of 80 million American workers,” he added. “Today, my Republican colleagues and I will formally challenge this federal overreach, Braun said. He then called for other lawmakers to vote in striking down the mandate. “I urge the Senate to vote in favor of this disapproval resolution when it comes to the Floor.” Watch the FOX59 News video reporting that OSHA suspends enforcement of large employer ‘vaccine mandate’:
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