# The Biden Administration’s Vaccine Mandate: What Small Businesses Need to Know
The Biden Administration has issued a new federal regulation requiring that small businesses employing more than 100 people must provide coronavirus vaccinations for their employees or conduct regular tests. Despite legal and political challenges to the rule, federal officials maintain that the vaccine policy will preempt any state vetoes. In this article, we will explain the key provisions of the vaccine mandate and how it may affect small businesses.
## The New Federal Regulation
The vaccine mandate is one of the most arduous efforts to boost the number of vaccinations across the nation. The policy is currently being put into effect as an emergency measure from the Department of Labor. Small businesses employing more than 100 people are required to provide coronavirus vaccinations for their employees before Jan. 4, 2022, or conduct regular tests. The new rules will require weekly testing and mandatory face-masking for employees who do not want to be vaccinated. The policy also states that employers must offer paid time off to employees to have their vaccinations or to recover from any negative side consequences. However, employers are also able to insist that employees who have not been vaccinated pay the cost of testing.
## Legal and Political Challenges
Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, has vowed to bring a lawsuit against the federal government to stop the vaccine mandate, declaring it to be an “illegal, unconstitutional rule.” Despite such challenges, public health experts believe that coronavirus vaccines have proven effective in preventing infection and have the greatest chance to steer the nation out of the pandemic. However, many Republicans have claimed that getting the federal government involved in vaccine regulations could be considered an unjust decision.
## The Impact on Small Businesses
The vaccine mandate will have a significant impact on small businesses across the United States. It is estimated that the White House policy will be in effect for approximately 84 million employees. However, the regulatory burdens and compliance costs related to policy implementation may increase the challenges facing those working in construction and other sectors. The inclusion of language of the 490-page rule is an indication that OSHA could consider expanding the rules to cover every business, not just those with more than 100 employees.
Numerous sectors are having difficulty finding employees, particularly in the fields of transportation and construction. The new policy “is likely to raise compliance costs and result in regulatory burdens that can increase the challenges facing those working in construction,” warns Ben Brubeck, vice president at Associated Builders and Contractors.
## Conclusion
In conclusion, the Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate is one of the most arduous efforts to boost the number of vaccinations across the nation. Despite legal and political challenges, the federal government maintains that the vaccine policy will preempt any state vetoes. Small businesses across the United States will need to comply with the new regulation, which mandates vaccination or regular testing for employees. While the vaccine mandate aims to steer the nation out of the pandemic, its implementation and regulatory burdens may increase the challenges facing small businesses, particularly in the sectors of transportation and construction.
