HR Huddle - October 28, 2021

Overview

• The deadline of December 8, 2021 requiring Federal contractor employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is quickly approaching.
• The proposed OSHA vaccine mandate for private employers is NOT YET in effect.
• The EEOC recently updated their Technical Assistance Questions and Answers that address questions about religious objections to employer COVID-19 vaccine requirements and how they interact with federal equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws.

Details:

• The deadline of December 8, 2021 requiring Federal contractor employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is quickly approaching.
  • EO 14042, Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, and the subsequent guidance issued by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force requires Federal contractors and subcontractors with a covered contract to abide by the following procedures:

1. 1. COVID-19 vaccination of covered contractor employees, except in limited circumstances where an employee is legally entitled to an accommodation;
   2. Compliance by individuals, including covered contractor employees and visitors, with the Guidance related to masking and physical distancing while in covered contractor workplaces; and
   3. Designation by covered contractors of a person or persons to coordinate COVID-19 workplace safety efforts at covered contractor workplaces.
   • Employers should be gathering information and implementing policies to guide their workforce during this time. The HR Consulting Team at Redstone GCI has thoroughly reviewed the mandates and has developed sample policies and request for religious and medical exemption forms. There are many nuances to this mandate, so if you need assistance with understanding the guidance or the accommodation request process, please contact us today.
   • EO 14042 can be found here: Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors | The White House
   • Guidance issued by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force and enforced by EO 14042 can be found here: Guidance for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors (saferfederalworkforce.gov)

• The proposed OSHA vaccine mandate for private employers is NOT YET in effect.
  • The proposed OSHA vaccine mandate would affect private employers with 100 or more employees. OSHA submitted the text of the emergency temporary standard to the Office of Management and Budget for review on October 12, 2021. It is speculated that the mandate will be published and take effect in the near future. Proper preparation will be key to successfully navigating the mandate.
• The EEOC recently updated their Technical Assistance Questions and Answers that address questions about religious objections to employer COVID-19 vaccine requirements and how they interact with federal equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws.
  • “This update provides employers, employees, and applicants with important assistance when navigating vaccine-related religious accommodation requests,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows. This technical assistance answers COVID-19 questions only from the perspective of the EEO laws. Other federal, state, and local laws come into play regarding the COVID-19 pandemic for employers, employees, and applicants. To read the Technical Assistance, visit the EEOC website.