HSB Blog
U.S. Supreme Court Blocks OSHA ETS for Large Employers but Allows Vaccination Requirements for Healthcare Workers to Proceed
January 13, 2022
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a stay against the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for employers with 100 or more employees. The ETS requires covered employers to implement a COVID-19 policy that either 1) requires employees to be vaccinated or 2) gives employees the option between being vaccinated or wearing a face covering and getting tested every 7 days.OSHA Vaccine Mandate Back On: What You Need to Know
December 20, 2021
On Friday, December 17, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated OSHA’s vaccine mandate for private employers with at least 100 employees. On Saturday, OSHA announced that it will proceed forward with enforcement under modified timelines.Mandatory Vaccines for Healthcare Workers Put on Pause
December 01, 2021
On Tuesday, November 30, the Western District for Louisiana issued a preliminary injunction against the COVID-19 vaccine mandate issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). South Carolina joined in this lawsuit with thirteen other states (Louisiana, Montana, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio). The Louisiana Court’s injunction prevents CMS from enforcing its vaccine mandate for healthcare workers until the court can hear legal challenges to the CMS mandate.Update on the Status of OSHA's Vaccine Mandate
November 16, 2021
As of today, OSHA announced that it “has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of the ETS [Emergency Temporary Standard] pending future developments in the litigation.” A link to the announcement can be found here. The announcement came in response to the decision from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ordering OSHA to essentially stand down for the time being.CMS Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccinations for Health Care Staff
November 05, 2021
On November 4, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an emergency regulation requiring COVID-19 vaccination of eligible staff at health care facilities that participate in the CMS reimbursement programs. This regulation applies to the following facilities that accept Medicare and/or Medicaid:Vaccination Requirements Issued for Employers: What Employers in South Carolina Should Know.
November 04, 2021
President Biden recently issued an Executive Order (EO) mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for certain health care workers, federal employees and federal contractors. The Executive Order also mandated that private employers with 100 or more employees must either require their employees to be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) establishing vaccination requirements for employers with 100 or more employees. Below is an overview of the requirements issued by OSHA in the ETS.Top 7 Questions Employers Have About President Biden’s Mandatory Vaccination Plan, Next Steps
September 16, 2021
Many employers were left with more questions than answers after President Biden discussed the private employer requirement of his COVID-19 Action Plan, the “Path out of the Pandemic Plan,” on September 9, 2021. Chris Gantt-Sorenson and Perry MacLennan were guests on this week’s Survive HR Podcast to discuss the President’s COVID-19 Action Plan and answer these pressing questions. Chris and Perry discussed the Plan, its impact on employers, what employers should expect, and the Plan's legality as it pertains to private employers.President Biden Asks OSHA to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines
September 10, 2021
On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced a new COVID-19 Action Plan. The Plan states the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing a rule (also known as temporary standard or regulation) requiring all employers with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccinations. For any workers not vaccinated, they must produce a negative test result at least weekly before coming to work.OSHA Issues Updated COVID-Related Guidance for Employers
June 11, 2021
On June 10, 2021, OSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) applicable to employers of employees who perform healthcare services and support, and revised guidance for all other employers. OSHA expressly acknowledges that the CDC no longer requires most employers to continue taking steps to protect their vaccinated workers but states employers must continue to take steps to protect unvaccinated or otherwise at-risk workers.