The Listen to MI Business Coalition seeks dialogue with President Biden and OSHA
Yesterday, Listen to MI Business, a new statewide coalition of business and employee advocates launched. The coalition is asking President Biden to reconsider his federal vaccine mandate, because employers simply cannot shoulder this responsibility alone.
“While the Chamber strongly supports vaccinations and businesses that choose to encourage them, it’s very concerning to see this OSHA rule will soon come down without comment or input from the employers who are charged to enforce them,” said Andy Johnston, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Grand Rapids Chamber. “They are many unanswered questions and this puts job providers in an incredibly difficult position from both a political and logistical position.”
Members of the Listen to MI Business Coalition are deeply concerned about the unintended consequences of the federal mandate, because Michigan job creators have already fought fiercely to stay afloat and keep their employees, customers and workplaces safe from COVID-19.
Instead of this massive responsibility being put solely on employers, without listening to their concerns or answering their many questions, businesses and workers should be trusted to work together to determine the best course of action and HR policies that fit and work for them.
Listen to MI Business Coalition members are encouraging employers and employees to use the coalition website to contact President Biden and ask him to reconsider the federal vaccine mandate.
“We’re all in this recovery together, and that is why we are strongly encouraging President Biden to reconsider his federal vaccine mandate,” said Tim Daman, President and CEO of the Lansing Regional Chamber. “Michigan employers and employees have already teamed up to get our economy moving again and we are ready to discuss additional ways to keep people safe and healthy.”
During the coalition announcement, members expressed concerns about:
Government Mandates: Top-down government mandates that limit employer and employee rights will have a devastating impact on Michigan jobs, communities and economy.
Lost workers: The arbitrary 100-employee dividing line will make an already challenging labor market more difficult.
More Division: The government mandate unnecessarily puts employers and employees in a difficult position other at a time when our economy, communities and families can least afford it.
Visit ListenToMIBusiness.com to take action today.
Initial coalition members include:
Battle Creek Area Chamber
Grand Rapids Area Chamber
Lansing Regional Chamber
Michigan Chamber
Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance
Petoskey Chamber
Traverse Connect
