Looks like my company is about to cave. They've sent out the survey to gauge how many are vaxxed and how many are holding out. They've basically already said, "we respect your opinion, but our hands are tied." We fall under both the federal contractor EO and the 100 employee EO.

Does anybody know how this will be enforced? It seems to me that it should be as easy as checking a box that says we comply. Will OSHA launch a new squad that goes around checking all the vax cards at every company? That's about 500 at ours -- how about for those firms with thousands of employees? Same for federal contracts -- will we have to provide 500 vax cards along with our signed contracts? Isn't it up to each company to evaluate and grant exemption requests? I feel like random audits are the only tool the government will have to enforce this. I guess I just feel that a company can fairly easily blow this off if they want to, but I find myself surprised at the covidians in management here.

Side note, and cool story bro: the Navy announced that recruits can only have 2 guests attend boot camp graduation, and they have to be vaccinated to attend. Thanks to someone on this forum (I don't remember your name, but huge thanks!) I was able to see my son graduate last week!

My company said today that if your exemption is denied you'll be fired 12/3. I've reached out to some legal friends to see what their thoughts are on all the EO stuff but who knows. Seems like the protection for Texas residents doesn't really exist.

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we respect your opinion, but our hands are tied we're just following orders

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That's about the way it is. If your management thinks the mandate is BS you'll get your exemption. If they don't you get fired. The government probably won't get around to auditing exemptions until after the mid-terms and by then it will be all over for Joe and his mandates.

Next your kids will need to be vaccinated. The whole household vaccinated to keep your job. Executive order is worthless science will show unless the follow up comprehensive EO closes this safety loophole.

Trench needs to be dug now before the line in the sand is behind you.

My former employer laid off the entire row crop sales force after they sold the distribution rights to our main product to a multinational ag corporation. I was pretty distraught when it happened this past summer. I've been looking and finally found the right fit with another company. I got the offer and the was relieved to find out that my new company doesn't mandate a vaccine and doesn't intend to ever force a mandate

Edited to add that my former employer is based out of the EU, they pushed my regional manager to take and post pictures of him getting vaccinated in spring 2020, and I'm pretty sure they will enforce mandates if they haven't already

The OSHA ETS (100 EE threshold) is anticipated to be released next week. It will be challenged immediately and should get enjoined from going into effect for not meeting the emergency standard.

Biden's executive order for federal contractors is already being challenged and the WH is starting to back peddle a bit. Supply chain issues and unions fighting back hard are creating some bad publicity.

My long shot hope is that with the vaccination rates increasing (would go up higher right after they approve vaccine for young children-mine will never get it), and cases dropping, the administration will pull back and take credit for a victory.

However, I think it is more likely to go through and people will have to pursue exemptions (for fed K order). To your original point about OSHA fines, I think that never materializes but if it did, it would originate through employee complaints (e.g. whistleblower complaints alleging unsafe working conditions).

Tell your company you're vaccinated for the Ligma and Sugma variants.

Did y'all know OSHA rules don't apply to work from home employees. If your company says they do, they are wrong.

TRM said:

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ChrisTAMU said:

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My company said today that if your exemption is denied you'll be fired 12/3. I've reached out to some legal friends to see what their thoughts are on all the EO stuff but who knows. Seems like the protection for Texas residents doesn't really exist.

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If it's denied, I'd ask them in writing why they denied it and how they evaluated it wasn't a closely held belief. What legal training did they receive to make that evaluation? Get something documented in case you have to go the legal route.

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Thank you for the advice. I will definitely do this.

I am looking forward to the court challenges. I give this about a 2% chance of surviving.

nm

coconutED said:

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we respect your opinion, but our hands are tied we're just following orders

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No, they're bending over to an illegal mandate.

wreckncrew said:

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We are all going to have to stand up to this at some point wven if it costs us our job. Go down swinging or give this government more power that they will never give back.

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When they're done with this they'll be coming for the kids. Might as well decide now where your red line is.

My company introduced a decision exemption for Texas. So we have religious and medical across US with Texas having a personal one. Hah.

aggiedata said:

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Did y'all know OSHA rules don't apply to work from home employees. If your company says they do, they are wrong.

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Makes sense why the company I work for is pushing office people back in to a minimum of 2 days per week in the office.

Tx-Ag2010 said:

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My employer just said we can remove our masks at work if we upload our vaccine cards to their system. The cynic in me thinks this is just to gage how many of us are vaccinated before deciding to enforce the mandate.

(I'm vaccinated, however, as much as I hate the masks I'd rather wear one and stand up for the rights of my unvaccinated coworkers) These mandates are BS

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Mine said the same. Then once most people gave up their medical information, they said oops sorry it's too bad again and everyone must wear a mask and maintain 6ft distancing. That's still current policy.

So glad I'm not an office employee.

Mine requires N95 masks for unvaxxed and nothing for vaxxed. The unvaxxed just hang their masks on their ear at their desk and no one cares. Half of the vaxxed still wear masks in the office.

I follow the rules to the letter. I wear my mask only in the elevator and to my desk, then hang it on my ear. Then wear it to the bathroom, kitchen, and elevator. As soon as I get off the elevator it comes off at the ground floor. It is on my face maybe 5 minutes total per day.

ChrisTAMU said:

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My company said today that if your exemption is denied you'll be fired 12/3. I've reached out to some legal friends to see what their thoughts are on all the EO stuff but who knows. Seems like the protection for Texas residents doesn't really exist.

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Depends of Abbott wants to get re elected

He will file a lawsuit against every company that does.

Some good advice I came across if you plan n taking a stand with your employer:

https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/-coffee-and-covid-monday-october-4e1

It's hard to blame your employer about this. The fines per violation were $14,000 when first announced. The Democrats had, as part of their Reconciliation bill, a $700,000 fine for "willful violations" by a company for failure to enforce the mandate. Allah only knows where that ends up as the Democrats flail about, but how many companies would want to take that risk?
The whole thing is a Mongolian CF. Brandon announced this September 9th. Since then, he has done nothing but drop in the polls, as have daily COVID cases and deaths. I'm not sure which is dropping faster. There is no doubt that there will (and should) be a flurry of lawsuits if and when OSHA finalizes its regs. I can't imagine that OSHA, which can only mandate emergency rules to control exposure to "agents and substances" in the workplace , could put forth mandates which will stand up to the legal challenges.

I'm remote and only people going into the office have to be vaccinated.

Gave this same exact feedback in recent employee survey. We need our companies to standup and be leaders when they see government overreach, not just lay down say we have to be compliant.

fightintexasaggie said:

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Good luck to you! My company just said to fill out an exemption form and they just need it to check a box. Hopefully yours will do the same.

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If several large companies would do this, then this thing would be over. The government is not going to spend the time checking every single accommodation and then force an individual to prove their religion. Companies should just take any halfway legible accommodation, approve it, and move on.

How are companies verifying proof of vax? Is it just presenting your vax card? If so, it's extremely easy to make a fake one.

ReloadAg said:

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How are companies verifying proof of vax? Is it just presenting your vax card? If so, it's extremely easy to make a fake one.

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Uploading pic of your vax card to a DB.

I am so glad I'm retired, I am so sorry for all of you having to deal with this with your employers.

It is so wrong it is so unnecessary and it's just pure evil.

I hope one day there will be a reckoning.