MILWAUKEE— Businesses with 100 or more employees will have to ensure that employees are either vaccinated or take weekly COVID-19 tests, in accordance with the latest mandate from the Biden administration. This could bring some uncertainty to many workplaces, especially if this means they could potentially lose some of their employees. 

Milwaukee labor and employment attorney Erik Eisenmann said President Joe Biden’s new mandate could shift the way employers handle COVID-19 in the workplace. 

“What this rule does is effectively evens the playing field,” said Eisenmann. 

He said it may be more difficult for somebody who is leaving their workplace to find a job at a similar employer, because everybody will be subject to the same mandate. He added that decision could bring some pushback or doubts from employers and employees. 

He said a few clients have expressed worry in mandating the vaccine thus far, because they’ve said as many as 10% of their workforce might leave if it were required. But, those thinking of leaving their jobs may have limited options. 

“There are going to be fewer exit strategies for those employees that object to the vaccine for one reason or another,” said Eisenmann. 

While it still might be too soon for businesses to have a plan of attack, Eisenmann said there is sure to be an influx of legal inquiries. He said his firm has mostly had clients inquire on how to obtain a vaccine exemption. 

He expects there to be more questions as leaders move forward in working to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the workplace.