Update On Biden Administration's Vaccine Mandate

Words: Jeff Buczkiewicz

UPDATE 11/23/2021: We are waiting on a ruling from the Sixth Circuit Court. In the event they decide to agree with the Fifth Circuit and continue to stay the rule, we will keep monitoring the situation. Should the Sixth Circuit Court decide to enforce the rule, the MCAA will be providing Vaccination and Regular Testing Policies for our members.

A three-judge panel upheld the stay of the Vaccination Mandate issued by OSHA a week ago.  The three-judge panel cited irreparable harm if it were not held up and the rule was eventually overturned. The panel also felt the rule had a good chance of being overruled as there were concerns about the administration doing a 180 from its previous determination on both vaccines and on why an ETS was not necessary without giving a detailed explanation for the flip flop.  

In addition, the panel was concerned about the constitutionality authority under the Commerce Clause and threatens states’ power under the 10th amendment. The court further notes that the ETS is noneconomic activity, which means it falls within the States’ powers. They also noted they did not feel OSHA had the authority to create such a mandate. Likely the rule will be appealed to a full appellate court. If that court concurs, it will likely be headed for the Supreme Court. 

Stay tuned for additional updates.  

PPE That Workers Actually Wear: Building Buy-In Through Education and Smart Selection
August 2026

In masonry construction, personal protective equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense between a worker and an injury. Yet despite its importance, PPE compliance remains one of the most common challenges on jobsites across the country. The realit

Zero Laydown: Navigating the Logistics of Tight Urban Job Sites
August 2026

In modern commercial construction, spatial real estate has become just as valuable as the materials themselves. The industry shift toward high-density, urban projects means that the sprawling job sites of the past have been replaced by tight footprints wh

Why "The Software Can't Track That" Is Finally Going Away
August 2026

For as long as specialty contractors have used field software, most of them have kept a workaround somewhere: a spreadsheet on a foreman's laptop, a whiteboard in the trailer, or a text thread where crew leads send block counts at the end of the day becau

Monadnock Building
August 2026

Chicago’s Monadnock Building doesn’t dominate the skyline the way it once did. Surrounded by steel-and-glass towers, the dark brick structure can seem almost understated. But for anyone in the masonry industry, it remains one of the most important buildin