Millions of people are flooding back to work as the coronavirus ebbs, but businesses say the federal government's failure to answer pressing questions over masks and vaccinations are complicating their reopening efforts.
Despite President Joe Biden’s new goal of getting 70 percent of Americans vaccinated by July 4, and his call for every employer to offer paid time off for workers to recover from the shot, the government has yet to answer whether it’s legal for businesses to offer vaccine incentives to their staff.
While some employers have already offered paid time off, swag or other perks, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency in charge of policing federal anti-discrimination law, hasn't clarified whether such incentives could "coerce" employees into getting the shot or disclosing their vaccination status in order to get the benefits.
And although the CDC said last month that vaccinated Americans only need to wear a mask when gathering in indoor public places, it’s unclear how that applies to private workplaces like factories and offices.
At the same time, the Labor Department is finalizing long-delayed Covid-19 emergency workplace safety rules that would last through November, which many expect to require workers to wear face masks, among other measures. ...
