On November 4th, 2021 the Biden administration set January 4th 2022, as the deadline for large companies to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly testing. Companies are also requiring employees to wear a face mask during job times beginning December 5th.

This new rule will force private businesses to help their employees from further spreading the virus, possibly helping combat the virus after almost two years of minimum requirements placed on large businesses. This deadline is expected to affect over eighty four million workers with any employer who fails to meet this requirement facing a $14,000 fine per employee.

This is just one step of President Joe Biden’s plan for success as a similar yet separate act will be activated on January 4th. Nursing homes and other health care facilities that receive either Medicare or Medicaid funds are required to have all employees vaccinated by the deadline with no alternative option.

Both of these acts have created a spark of debate in the political hemisphere with republicans and right leaning individuals being the group with the greatest complaints. Attorney generals in at least twenty four states have threatened or mentioned the act of suing with a small portion of the population claiming it as unethical or unconstitutional.

On the activation of the act, President Joe Biden states, “While I would have much preferred that requirements not become necessary, too many people remain unvaccinated for us to get out of this pandemic for good.”

The ruling is being enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA). Currently, the administration is contemplating furthering the act by imposing it on smaller businesses, leaving a thirty day contemplation period where the department could weigh the pros and cons of extending the ruling.