• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
HealthCOVID-19 vaccines

The Biden administration unveiled 2 vaccination rules on Thursday that will soon impact 100 million U.S. workers

Nicole Goodkind
By
Nicole Goodkind
Nicole Goodkind
Down Arrow Button Icon
Nicole Goodkind
By
Nicole Goodkind
Nicole Goodkind
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 4, 2021, 7:00 PM ET

The Biden administration unveiled two vaccination rules on Thursday that will soon impact 100 million U.S. workers and their employers. 

The first rule, which goes into effect on January 4th, requires companies with 100 or more employees to ensure that their workers are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or that they test negative for COVID-19 at least once a week. The second requires health care workers to be vaccinated by the same deadline with no option for testing. 

Importantly, the vaccine mandate does not apply to employees who “do not report to a workplace where other co-workers or customers are present, or who work exclusively from home,” notes labor and employment lawyer Keith Wilkes, a partner and shareholder at law firm Hall Estill. 

That means that OSHA will not require fully remote employees at companies like Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, Ford, and Slack, which have allowed some employees to work from home, to report proof of vaccination or take weekly COVID tests—so long as they stay away from the office. 

If an unvaccinated employee has been teleworking for two weeks or more but must report to their office, where other employees will be present, they will need show proof of a negative COVID test within the seven days prior to visiting. 

Employers have 60 days until they must comply with the rules, but a long list of legal and reporting preparations await them. 

Employers will have to establish a compliant written policy on vaccination, determine the vaccination status of each employee, obtain acceptable proof of vaccination, provide support for employees who still need vaccination, create and enforce mask policies for those who are unvaccinated, and make certain records available to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, who is enforcing the rule for most office workers (the healthcare rule will be enforced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). 

They will also be required to provide their employees with information about their policies, information about vaccination efficacy, safety and benefits, and about criminal penalties for knowingly providing false information, said Wilkes.

The government is relying on companies to do the majority of rule-enforcement. There are only a few thousand OSHA workers around the country, and they will mainly be responding to complaints of non-compliance. Employers who are found guilty of breaking the rules will pay up to $13,653 per serious violation and 10 times that for repeated violations. 

Twenty-one states have opted out of OSHA’s governance and instead have OSHA-approved enforcement agencies for workplace safety. Those states will have to enact vaccine-requirement rules that are at least as effective as the federal rule within the next 30 days.

More health care and Big Pharma coverage from Fortune:

  • ‘Vax’ is Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year
  • With a vaccine mandate looming, these apps help businesses check which employees got vaxxed
  • Novavax COVID-19 vaccine’s long-delayed global rollout will start in Indonesia, fueling hope for more equitable distribution
  • 100 million Indians have skipped their second vaccine dose, leaving the country vulnerable to a third COVID wave
  • A COVID scare trapped 33,000 visitors inside Shanghai Disneyland in a ‘surreal’ scene

Subscribe to Fortune Daily to get essential business stories straight to your inbox each morning.

About the Author
Nicole Goodkind
By Nicole Goodkind
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Health

Poppi cofounder Allison Ellsworth
SuccessEntrepreneurs
Poppi cofounder maxed out credit cards and sold her car to fund the company—now, she’s a multimillionaire after a $1.95 billion sale
By Emma BurleighMay 11, 2026
2 hours ago
American schools have been quietly killing recess to focus on test scores—and pediatricians are warning it’s a mistake
HealthEducation
American schools have been quietly killing recess to focus on test scores—and pediatricians are warning it’s a mistake
By Laura Ungar and The Associated PressMay 11, 2026
2 hours ago
Evacuations begin for hantavirus-hit cruise ship, with American passengers to be quarantined in Nebraska. ‘This is not another COVID’
HealthHealth
Evacuations begin for hantavirus-hit cruise ship, with American passengers to be quarantined in Nebraska. ‘This is not another COVID’
By Iain Sullivan, Suman Naishadham and The Associated PressMay 10, 2026
23 hours ago
joaquin
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
Johnson & Johnson CEO: America’s innovation advantage starts with health 
By Joaquin DuatoMay 9, 2026
2 days ago
You’re probably safe from the Hantavirus outbreak, but here’s what you absolutely must not do, experts say
PoliticsCoronavirus
You’re probably safe from the Hantavirus outbreak, but here’s what you absolutely must not do, experts say
By Catherina GioinoMay 8, 2026
3 days ago
The Best Online Personal Trainers of 2026: In-Depth Workout Coaching at Home
HealthDietary Supplements
The Best Online Personal Trainers of 2026: In-Depth Workout Coaching at Home
By Emily PharesMay 8, 2026
3 days ago

Most Popular

‘This is the way’: Elon Musk endorses Warren Buffett’s famed 5-minute plan to fix the national debt
Economy
‘This is the way’: Elon Musk endorses Warren Buffett’s famed 5-minute plan to fix the national debt
By Jacqueline MunisMay 10, 2026
1 day ago
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Gen Z and millennials are using ChatGPT like a 'life advisor'—but college students might be one step ahead
Tech
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Gen Z and millennials are using ChatGPT like a 'life advisor'—but college students might be one step ahead
By Sydney LakeMay 10, 2026
1 day ago
Red flag test: former CEO explains why he rejects job candidates who say they can start right away
Success
Red flag test: former CEO explains why he rejects job candidates who say they can start right away
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMay 9, 2026
2 days ago
'Employers are increasingly turning to degree and GPA' in hiring: Recruiters retreat from ‘talent is everywhere,’ double down on top colleges
Future of Work
'Employers are increasingly turning to degree and GPA' in hiring: Recruiters retreat from ‘talent is everywhere,’ double down on top colleges
By Jake AngeloMay 9, 2026
2 days ago
Trump thinks he's flying to Beijing with leverage. China spent 6 years making sure he doesn't have any
Commentary
Trump thinks he's flying to Beijing with leverage. China spent 6 years making sure he doesn't have any
By Steve H. HankeMay 10, 2026
1 day ago
Ted Cruz says the quiet part out loud: Trump accounts are Social Security personal accounts as GOP senator reveals 'dirty little secret'
Politics
Ted Cruz says the quiet part out loud: Trump accounts are Social Security personal accounts as GOP senator reveals 'dirty little secret'
By Jason MaMay 9, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.