Page 9 - BusinessWest October 27, 2021

most businesses in this region fit the textbook definition of ‘small’ — under 100 employees — there are hundreds of companies, nonprofits, and insti- tutions that count at least that many workers. That includes healthcare- related agencies, manufacturers, nurs- ing homes, municipal departments,
a few banks, and many more. Mean- while, the provision regarding federal contractors — and subcontractors — brings many more businesses under the auspices of the Biden mandates.
“People would be surprised at the array of businesses, both for-profit and nonprofit, that meet that federal- contractor test,” said Royal, noting that her own firm has had federal con- tracts at different points in its history. “So this has an impact on a number
of organizations up and down the val- ley — including small businesses and human-service agencies that may provide a service to the federal govern- ment in some way and come under the umbrella of being a federal contractor.
“It might even be retail-type prod- uct that is sold on a military base,” she went on, while detailing the broad scope of these measures. “This defi- nitely has widespread implications.”
Beyond waiting — and perhaps hoping that the measure is delayed, which most experts say is possible but not likely — the best area employers can try to do is be ready, said Gannon, adding that, while it’s anyone’s guess as to just when the OSHA standard for companies with 100 or more employ- ees will be issued, it will almost cer- tainly be released before the end of the year.
“When President Biden first issued his plan in early September, we told people, ‘let’s see what happens over the next 30 days,’” he explained. “But now, we’re getting to a situation where employers have to begin planning and preparing.”
Indeed, the clock is certainly ticking on the Dec. 8 deadline for federal con- tractors, he noted, adding that anyone who takes a vaccine that requires two shots must wait several weeks after the first shot to get the second. And full vaccination, regardless of whether it’s a one-dose or two-dose vaccine, is not achieved until two weeks after the final dose.
“It can take employees at least 45 days, and that’s if they act as soon as possible, to make sure they’re vacci- nated,” Gannon went on. “Meanwhile, employers are going to have to get testing programs in place and provide options for employees on how they get tested weekly if they are opposed to getting vaccinated.”
The logical next step for employ- ers, if they haven’t done it already, is to determine their vaccination rates and thus get a handle on the scope of the problem they’re facing, he added. “We’ve seen all sorts of numbers, but generally, employers fall some- where in the 60% to 80% range,” he said. “And you’re allowed to ask people
“When President Biden first issued his plan in early September, we told people, ‘let’s see what happens over the next 30 days.’ But now, we’re getting to a situation where employers have to begin planning and preparing.
Compounding the Problems
Flashing back to those days — it might even have been hours — after Biden announced his vaccination mandates, when the phone calls started coming in, Royal said the ini- tial reaction was shock, followed by incredulousness.
“That’s because it represents a whole new layer of challenges for employers when they’ve already been navigating a number of challenges
Mandates
Continued on page 76
JOHN GANNON
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ask them why, but you can generally survey your workforce population, and that should be the first step.”
if they are vaccinated or not — several agencies have confirmed that there is nothing unlawful about that. You can’t
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FEATURE
OCTOBER 27, 2021 9
BusinessWest