More Companies Lift Vaccine Mandates , Amid Labor Shortage, Despite Omicron Variant.<br />NBC News reports that a number of health care systems <br />and other companies have suspended mandates <br />requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.<br />Major companies that have lifted requirements <br />include Amtrak and General Electric. .<br />In recent weeks, court rulings have halted <br />mandates for health care workers and federal <br />contractors put in place by the Biden administration. .<br />In recent weeks, court rulings have halted <br />mandates for health care workers and federal <br />contractors put in place by the Biden administration. .<br />While many employers are dealing with <br />a widespread labor shortage, COVID cases have <br />surged amid the spread of the Omicron variant. .<br />While many employers are dealing with <br />a widespread labor shortage, COVID cases have <br />surged amid the spread of the Omicron variant. .<br />According to NBC News, David Barron, <br />a Houston-based employment attorney, <br />said that those shortages likely played a large role <br />in health care systems' decision to lift mandates. .<br />Most employers do not have the luxury <br />of losing 5 percent or 10 percent or whatever <br />percent of their workforce doesn’t want <br />to get vaccinated. In this environment, <br />it’s very tough, especially in jobs <br />like health care or other industries <br />where it’s a very tight labor market, David Barron, a Houston-based employment attorney, via NBC News.<br />Most employers do not have the luxury <br />of losing 5 percent or 10 percent or whatever <br />percent of their workforce doesn’t want <br />to get vaccinated. In this environment, <br />it’s very tough, especially in jobs <br />like health care or other industries <br />where it’s a very tight labor market, David Barron, a Houston-based employment attorney, via NBC News.<br />Last week, a judge issued a nationwide injunction <br />against the mandate for federal contractors. .<br />Following the injunction, Amtrak and <br />General Electric both suspended <br />their employee mandates. .<br />Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines has said that <br />it will monitor the lawsuits but will still require <br />employees to be vaccinated by January 4. .<br />What we might end up with is a patchwork — red state, blue state — where some states, some cities have mandates, and then others don’t — which is going to be a nightmare for large, multistate companies, David Barron, a Houston-based employment attorney, via NBC News
