This video provides a summary of the status of the various COVID-19 vaccine mandates, with a focus on Executive Order 14042. Although this federal contractor vaccine mandate is subject to an injunction, covered contractors still have some COVID-related obligations for maintaining a safe workplace that should not be overlooked. We also discuss the importance of good faith compliance efforts, including clear communications to employees regarding their right to request accommodation for those contractors that have moved forward with their policies on mandating vaccines. We note that since this recording (January 13, 2022), the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas also blocked the vaccine mandate for Federal workers.
Written by Jamie Brabston
Jamie Brabston is a Director/Senior Legal Consultant with Redstone Government Consulting, Inc. (Redstone GCI), specializing in Labor and Employment Law, with an emphasis on government contract law and compliance. Prior to joining Redstone GCI, Jamie was Senior Counsel with Lehr Middlebrooks Vreeland & Thompson, P.C., a boutique labor and employment law firm based in Birmingham, AL. Jamie assists employers with compliance, problem prevention, the analysis of complex employment law and contract related issues, as well as conducting investigations related to all types of employee complaints. In addition, Jamie works with employers in responding to complaints filed with external agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor (Wage & Hour, OSHA and the OFCCP), as well as state Departments of Labor. Jamie also provides litigation support as needed. In addition, Jamie advises federal government contractors with contract specific requirements such as affirmative action compliance, Service Contract Act and Davis Bacon, FAR requirements for ethics policies and awareness programs, the Drug Free Workplace Act and related record keeping. Jamie often assists contractors in performing mock compliance assessments to ensure they are prepared in the event of an audit or investigation. Jamie is a proficient trainer and speaker and is a primary instructor for the Federal Publications Seminars course, “HR for Government Contractors.” Additionally, Jamie regularly conducts training and education for individual employers and their employees on non-discrimination and anti-harassment, as well as training sessions for executive and non-executive management on a wide variety of overall management leadership skills, and government contract specific topics. Jamie also specializes and advises clients on employee benefits issues including ERISA welfare benefit plans, HIPAA, wellness plans, COBRA, the Affordable Care Act, and other federal and state laws, including related reporting requirements. Professional Experience In addition to her experience with Lehr Middlebrooks Vreeland & Thompson, P.C., Jamie was an attorney and shareholder with Huntsville, AL based law firm, Lanier Ford Shaver & Payne from 1994– 2006, where she defended large and small employers, including government contractors, in litigation involving sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, disability, age, religion, race and sex discrimination, FMLA, ERISA, invasion of privacy, negligent supervision, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and breach of contract. From 2006- 2009, Jamie served as General Counsel, Vice President of Human Resources, and Corporate Secretary for Digital Fusion, Inc., a Huntsville based government contractor. In 2009, Jamie founded her own employment law compliance firm, Practical Employment Solutions, Inc., where she partnered directly with small businesses, including government contractors, to assist them with a full range of human resource and employment law compliance needs specifically targeted to prevent and correct employment law and other compliance issues before governmental audits, investigations or litigation occurred. Jamie has also represented government contractors with restrictive covenant issues, and defended a mid-size, Virginia based contractor in a lawsuit involving allegations of violations of non-competition agreements and misappropriation of trade secrets.
About Redstone GCI
Redstone GCI is a consulting firm focused on fulfilling the needs of government contractors in all areas of compliance. With a singular mission to help contractors through the multiple layers of “red tape,” we allow contractors to focus on what they do best – support their mission with the U.S. Government. We are home to a group of consultants made up of GovCon industry professionals, CPAs, attorneys, and retired government audit and acquisition professionals.
Our focus and knowledge of audit and compliance functions administered by DCAA and DCMA will always be at the heart of what we do. However, for the past decade, we’ve strategically grown to support other areas of the government contractor back-office with that same level of focus and expertise. We’ve added expertise in contracts management, subcontract administration, proposal pricing, various software systems, HR and employment law, property administration, manufacturing, data analytics/reporting, Grant specialists, M&A, and many other areas. When we see a trend in the needs of contractors, we act to ensure we can provide the best expertise in the market to fulfill those needs.
One thing our clients can be certain of is that with the Redstone GCI Team in your corner, there is no problem too big and no issue too technical for our team to tackle.
