https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/09/politics/joe-biden-covid-speech/index.htmlBiden announces new vaccine
mandates that could cover 100 million Americans
Kevin Liptak-Profile-Image
Kaitlan Collins byline
By Kevin Liptak and Kaitlan Collins, CNN
Updated 0101 GMT (0901 HKT) September 10, 2021
Now, federal employees will have 75 days to get vaccinated or risk being fired.
A potentially massive impact on the US workforce
Wide swaths of the American workforce could be impacted by the new rules, which would take effect over the coming weeks. The new "emergency temporary standard" from the Labor Department will require large employers to give their workers paid time off to get vaccinated. If businesses don't comply, the government will "take enforcement actions," which could include "substantial fines up to nearly $14,000 per violation, according to officials.
"The expectation is if you want to work in the federal government or want to be a contractor, you need to be vaccinated," press secretary Jen Psaki said, adding the number of unvaccinated federal workers was still being compiled. Officials said limited exemptions would apply to workers claiming medical or religious reasons for not getting vaccinated.
The White House has said the federal government should act as a model for other businesses in their own vaccine mandates, and has praised large companies that require employees to be vaccinated.