Governor Cuomo Urges Employers to Mandate Vaccines

Earlier today, Governor Andrew Cuomo held a press conference to discuss the rising COVID positivity rate.
While he acknowledged that the State does not have the authority to mandate it at this time, he recommended that all businesses require employees (and patrons) to be vaccinated.
He also said that local governments do have the power to act, and urged them to re-implement public mask mandates. In the spirit of keeping with his own advice, the Governor mandated that all MTA and Port Authority employees be vaccinated by Labor Day or begin weekly testing ... perhaps a sign of rules to come.

While it’s hard to predict exactly what form the next step will take, it is certain that the rules and regulations are going to again start to move, and probably on a rapid, regular basis. Employers should watch the NYS Department of Labor, Forward NY, and CDC websites, and stay updated on the latest labor and employment rules as they develop.