Workplace vaccine ultimatums seem to be working.

 

That's the general consensus across the nation, even as we read of instances -- including in Massachusetts -- of union push back, lawsuits and workers quitting.

 

But, in fact, the pushback has been less dramatic than initially feared, reports the New York Times.

 

Surveys have shown that as many as half of unvaccinated workers say they will leave their jobs if they're forced to get the COVID-19 shot. But few actually quit, reports NPR.

 

One in four companies has already instituted a vaccine mandate for U.S. workers, according to Bloomberg.

 

?And this is before the Biden administration releases its own rules that will require companies with more than 100 workers to test unvaccinated workers weekly, with a $14,000 per instance fine for noncompliance.

 

The House version of the federal reconciliation bill would go even further, fining employers $70,000 for serious infractions, and $700,000 for willful or repeated violations for non-compliant companies, according to Forbes.

 

 

While large employers wait for Biden’s test-weekly-unless-vaccinated rules, most small-business owners say they’re planning to hire only vaccinated employees — and will fire an employee who does not get inoculated, according to a new survey of small businesses.

 

Nearly 60% of small-business owners say they will only hire vaccinated employees while 23% said they were considering such a policy. Only 19% said they will not consider vaccination status when hiring, reports Andy Medici for the BBJ.

 

The Digital.com survey also found:

 

 

Workplace mandates are legally allowed and have been upheld in court challenges.

 

But what about when an employee requests a religious exemption to your company’s vaccine mandate? NPR explores that issue here.

 

 

 
 

 

The tourism industry is asking Beacon Hill for more help for hotels, cultural attractions and other hospitality businesses that have been hammered by the pandemic, writes Christian M. Wade at the Eagle Tribune.

 

One proposal would pump more than $25 million into the state’s tourism and hospitality industries through grants and divert excess revenues from the state’s lodging tax back into the tourism fund.

 

A separate proposal, backed by more than 60 lawmakers, would divert $200 million in federal pandemic relief money to a new fund to support the state’s art museums, historical sites and other cultural attractions.

 

Visitors to Massachusetts generated more than $22.9 billion in economic activity a year before the pandemic, yielding $1.5 billion in state and local taxes.

 

 

Massachusetts employers can continue to seek reimbursement when employees need emergency paid sick leave due to COVID-19.

 

The paid sick leave program was set to expire this week. But it’s just been extended to April 1 2022, or the exhaustion of $75 million in program funds that were originally allocated for this program, whichever comes first.

 

The extension now also allows employees paid time off to care for a family member who needs to obtain or recover from a COVID-19 immunization. Updates here.

 

 

 

The SBA’s EIDL program was recently updated to be more favorable to small businesses, including:

 

Also: If your business received a PPP loan in 2020 and you haven’t applied for forgiveness soon it’s time -- or likely past time -- to do so. PPP loans automatically convert to a standard loan at 1% interest if you don’t apply to the SBA for forgiveness within 10 months of the end of the covered period.

 

 

This pandemic disrupted and changed us forever, right?

 

But once we get past it, how will we remember these days? And like everything else in this sped-up world, does it already look different?

 

As in, where were you when you were told to leave the office or heard that all pro sports events and concerts were cancelled?

 

Morgan Ome and Christian Paz at The Atlantic explore what they call “the pandemic-nostalgia trend.”

 

They've found a growing number of people -- especially younger folks -- pining for those early days of quarantine, you know, way back in March and April of 2020.

 

“As much as the people we spoke with may miss the suspended animation of those early days, they’re also worried about the even more uncertain fall and winter,” they write. 

 

“Some have returned to in-person classes or work, but don’t expect it to last and dread the idea of going remote again. Others are still working from home, and can’t stand it. In that context, pandemic nostalgia is an understandable reaction to pandemic fatigue, and as the coronavirus moves toward eventually becoming endemic, it seems like the early days of quarantine won’t easily fade into the recesses of society’s memories."

 

 

Finally, if you’re free Sunday between noon and 4 p.m. stop by and say hello to your favorite chamber team at Needham’s annual Harvest Fair. 

 

We’ve scaled back the fair this year due to COVID precautions. But we’ll still have some 50 local exhibitors, plus you can pick up a pumpkin and produce from the Needham Farmers Market (goat cheese?) for your pre-Pats game dinner.

 

Also this weekend, the town of Wellesley Celebrations Committee is hosting the 53rd Annual Wellesley Veterans Parade and Wellesley Wonderful Weekend. Schedule of events including an antique car show, parade, picnic, concert and fireworks can be found here.