Regulatory and Judicial Mandate Summary
On November 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring all employers with 100 or more workers to ensure all employees are either fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or provide a weekly negative test and wear a face covering while working indoors. Since then, the OSHA ETS implementation has been suspended due to a stay order by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ recent opinion on the legality of the mandate. As a result, OSHA has determined it will suspend the implementation of the ETS, which was originally set for early December. The debate over the implementation of the mandate is expected to continue in the courts, and while the ETS’ future is up in the air right now, employers are recommended to start planning toward compliance requirements of the ETS so that we are prepared should it be upheld at a later date.
Formation of a Mount Union Task Force to Respond to the ETS
Shortly after the ETS was initially announced, I took steps to establish a team charged with recommending a policy, processes, and communication strategies related to its implementation. The team includes appointed representatives of the Safe Reopening Group, Student Senate, Faculty Senate, Administrator Advisory Council, and Support Staff Advisory Council, in addition to staff members from the Office of Human Resources, Office of Student Financial Aid, Office of Student Affairs, Physical Plant, and Student Health Center. The team is meeting regularly to plan for the implementation of the ETS should it be upheld by the courts.
ETS Task Force Members
- Pat Heddleston (Co-Chair)
- Melissa Gardner (Co-Chair)
- Marci Craig
- Laura Good
- Kathleen Thomas
- Lee Smith
- Chris Pontius (Support Staff Advisory Council)
- Annie Schultz (Administrator Advisory Council)
- Beth Wayt
- Kelly Gaughan
- Sandra Madar
- Gwen Gray-Schwartz (Faculty Senate)
- Michelle Gaffney
- Santino Diaz-Palma (Student Senate)