Business

Biden Mandate: Workers Employed at USVI Companies With Over 100 Employees Must Be Vaccinated By Jan. 4 or Test Weekly

Large employers by Virgin Islands standards such as Home Depot, Plaza Extra East, the Market St. Croix and St. Thomas will have to require that their employees are either vaccinated or must test on a weekly basis by January 4, a Biden administration mandate that the president says is aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19, even as the mandate has come under immense Republican criticism. The new requirements, issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on Thursday, covers roughly 84 million workers across the U.S. and its territories. The mandate applies to employers with 100 or more employees. Companies subject to the requirements must ascertain that employees who are not vaccinated are tested weekly. Employers are not required to provide or pay for the tests, although there may be exceptions based on varying collective bargaining agreements. Companies that do not adhere to the new policy could face penalties of up to $13,600 per violation. Typically, OSHA res...