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U.S. regulators have finalized its rule requiring Americans who work at large companies to get vaccinated by Jan. 4, the Associated Press reports.
If workers reject the vaccine, they must wear a mask and test weekly, the report adds.
This impacts tens of millions of Americans who work at companies with 100 or more employees.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will also be policing workplaces nationwide to ensure compliance.
OSHA will reportedly send agents to check that workplaces are in compliance with the rule.
A company can be fined up to $136,532 for a “willful violations.”
The standard penalty is $13,653 for a single violation, says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
CNBC reported, “OSHA, which polices workplace safety for the Labor Department, will provide sample implementation plans and fact sheets among other materials to help companies adopt the new rules.”
“OSHA will also conduct on-site workplace inspections to make sure companies comply with the rules, a senior administration official said.”
“Penalties for noncompliance can range from $13,653 per serious violation to $136,532 if a company willfully violates the rules,” the report added.
“The vaccine mandate, which covers 84 million people employed in the private sector, represents the most expansive use of federal power to protect workers from Covid-19 since the virus was declared a pandemic in March 2020,” it continued.
“Biden’s vaccine mandate for large employers begins Jan 4, with hefty fines for noncompliance.”
More from Becker News:
The new requirements were first previewed by President Joe Biden in September. They will apply to about 84 million workers at medium and large businesses…
“The Biden administration ordered U.S. companies Thursday to ensure their employees are fully vaccinated or regularly tested for Covid-19 by Jan. 4 — giving them a reprieve over the holidays before the long-awaited and hotly contested mandate takes affect,” CNBC reported.
“The administration on Thursday also pushed back the deadline for federal contractors to comply with a stricter set of vaccine requirements for staff from Dec. 8 to Jan. 4 to match the deadline set for other private companies and health-care providers,” the report added.
“The newly released rules, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration under the Labor Department, apply to businesses with 100 or more employees,” the report noted. “All unvaccinated workers must begin wearing masks by Dec. 5 and provide a negative Covid test on a weekly basis after the January deadline, according to the requirements. Companies are not required to pay for or provide the tests unless they are otherwise required to by state or local laws or in labor union contracts. Anyone who tests positive is prohibited from going into work.”
“Companies also have until Dec. 5 to offer paid time for employees to get vaccinated and paid sick leave for them to recover from any side effects,” the report added.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will also be policing workplaces nationwide to ensure compliance with the unlawful mandate.