Accessibility Tools

Skip to main content

OSHA’s Enforcement of the OSHA COVID-19 Large Employer ETS Starts Today, 1/10. But Will the Supremes Put a Stop to It?

Written on .

OSHA will begin enforcing the provisions of the OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) starting today, January 10, 2022. However, it will not issue citations for noncompliance with the standard’s testing requirements before February 9, so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard. What does the mean for employers with 100 or more employees? If OSHA shows up at your facility, it may ask to see the documentation showing your compliance with the ETS’ requirements for things such as a written vaccination policy and records of employee vaccination status. Alternatively, employees could complain to OSHA that that their employer is not following the OSHA ETS, which is probably the bigger danger right now. Such an employee complaint could trigger an OSHA complaint investigation, which no business wants.

In the meantime, we are watching the U.S. Supreme Court for a decision on the request to stay the ETS from several business groups and states. On Friday, January 7, 2022, the Court heard arguments regarding both the OSHA ETS and the CMS vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. The arguments were live-streamed by the Court, and the questions posed by the various Justices offered a glimpse into how they might rule. After listening to the arguments myself, my best guess is that the Supreme Court will stay the ETS but allow the CMS vaccine mandate to go forward. But we shall see.

Kathleen J. Jennings
Former Principal

Kathleen J. Jennings is a former principal in the Atlanta office of Wimberly, Lawson, Steckel, Schneider, & Stine, P.C. She defends employers in employment matters, such as sexual harassment, discrimination, Wage and Hour, OSHA, restrictive covenants, and other employment litigation and provides training and counseling to employers in employment matters.

Related Content

Get Email Updates

Receive newsletters and alerts directly in your email inbox. Sign up below.

Recent Content

trump 2024 poster on wood
Donald Trump not only won the Presidency, but also almost came close to winning a majority of the votes; the Republicans flipped four Sen...
a longhorn cow grazing outdoors in grass field
On November 15, 2024, in Commerce v. USDOL, a federal district court in Texas invalidated a Biden Administration regulation that had atte...
ripped american flag
Many politicians are running on pro-union platforms and often say unions are good for our economy.  But look at what is going on right no...
a group of people crossing the street
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) includes provisions known as the white-collar exemption, which carves out certain "executive, adminis...
aircraft carrier at sea
Many employers believe they know the ins and outs of handling maternity leave and military leave, but some issues are now rising that bea...
inclusive sign
Supposedly the oldest magazine in continual publication, The Economist, published in London, has devoted its September 21-27, 2024, editi...