Dear Wyoming Employer,
As you know, two recent federal vaccine requirements were announced, impacting some Wyoming employers. This communication attempts to explain the current status of these two rules issued by the federal government. Recent action by judges halted these requirements, at least temporarily.
Federal OSHA “Vaccine or Test” Standard
Federal OSHA’s emergency temporary standard, known as the “vaccine or test” rule, which affects employers in the state with more than 100 employees, is currently suspended, pending proceedings of the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The rule, issued on Nov. 5, 2021, requires larger businesses to ensure that their workers are fully vaccinated or else be tested weekly for Covid-19, starting Jan. 4, 2022. At this time, employers do not need to abide by this standard to be in compliance with Wyoming OSHA. For more information about health and safety in the workforce visit the Department of Workforce Services’ (DWS) website, or call the DWS Occupational Safety and Health division at (307) 777-7786.
CMS Federal Vaccine Requirement for Healthcare Workers
This week, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for healthcare workers in several states, including Wyoming. This rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would impose vaccine requirements on their funded facilities. The ten states included in this injunction include Alaska, Iowa, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, New Hampshire, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Employers are not required to carry out this requirement at this time. For more information, contact the Wyoming Department of Health at (307) 777-7656.
Future court action will determine the fate of these rules.