64% of small-business owners support a federal vaccine mandate

That makes sense considering that the vast majority of the 500 small-business owners surveyed by MetLife and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce each employ fewer than 100 workers, meaning they won’t have to deal with the potential challenges posed by new federal mandates. Indeed, they may be able to leverage that as a strategic hiring advantage.

It’s a real concern for larger employers. Nearly nine out of 10 employers, or 87% of companies, in the packaged goods industry reported feeling concerned about challenges attracting talent or losing employees to employers that are not subject to vaccine requirements, according to a poll the Consumer Brands Association completed last week among its represented companies. Members include major brands such as the Clorox Co., General Mills, the J.M. Smucker Co., and PepsiCo. 

Among small-business owners, about 60% support companies in their area requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination from their customers, the survey found. Currently, about 10% of small businesses require customers to show vaccine cards or proof of vaccination, up from 3% in June, the survey finds.

Last month, President Joe Biden called on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue an emergency temporary standard that would require private businesses with at least 100 employees to put vaccine mandates in place and ensure unvaccinated workers undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. 

OSHA submitted the rule to the Office of Management and Budget earlier this month. Since then, administration officials have spent weeks meeting with employers, business groups, unions, and professionals to hear input before putting the mandate in place. Experts anticipate the rule will soon be public.

Fearful that a federal vaccine and testing mandate could disrupt operations and add to supply chain challenges, retail and business groups have asked the Biden administration to delay the requirements until after the holidays. 

Among small businesses, which could be covered under the rule if they have 100 or more employees, the retail sector is the most supportive of the proposal, according to the chamber’s survey. About 31% of workers in the retail sector are not vaccinated, according to the Harris poll’s COVID tracker survey, which asked over 2,100 workers from Sept. 24 through Sept. 26 about their vaccination status.

Retail was among the industries with the highest percentage of unvaccinated workers. Food services topped the list: 41% of those in this category—which includes restaurants, quick service, and catering—are not fully vaccinated, the highest rate of the sectors surveyed by Harris.

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