Update: Federal contractors get broad flexibility to enforce Covid vaccine rules for their workers

Federal contractors will have broad leeway to enforce President Joe Biden’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate, according to new guidance the White House released Monday, laying out details on implementation of the rules.

Under the new guidance, federal contractors from IBM and Boeing to food service providers will have flexibility to determine how they enforce the vaccination requirements for workers who refuse to be vaccinated.

“A covered contractor should determine the appropriate means of enforcement with respect to its employee at a covered contractor workplace who refuses to be vaccinated and has not been provided, or does not have a pending request for, an accommodation,” said the guidelines, which affect millions of workers.

The federal contractor guidelines are stricter than the forthcoming vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees, which allow for regular testing broadly as an alternative to a vaccine. The Labor Department is still finalizing those rules. Businesses have asked for that mandate to be delayed until after the holiday season over concerns about possible supply chain disruptions. ...