Honda Will Not Mandate Vaccines; Federal Mandate Requires Honda to Obtain Vaccination Status of all Associates by Dec. 5; Implement Weekly Testing Beginning Jan. 2022

If you would like to benchmark with other Honda suppliers on their vaccine-status/ETS plans, please utilize the secured Honda supplier discussion forum – https://hondaengage.com/sar/sarg_community

On Thursday, November 4, under executive order from the Biden Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing. Under the ETS, OSHA requires all private-sector companies (including Honda) that employ more than 100 associates to meet two compliance dates:

• December 5, 2021

  • Employers must obtain vaccination status for all associates.

  • If the ETS is implemented:

    • Employers must begin to provide associates with a reasonable amount of time and up to 4 hours paid time to obtain their primary vaccination doses(s) (not booster dose).

    • Employers must begin to provide associates with a reasonable amount of time to recover from vaccine side effects (typically up to 2 calendar days) and allow for paid time off (including use of accrued PTO or sick time).

• January 4, 2022

  • Employers must develop, implement, and enforce either a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, or a weekly COVID-19 testing program.

Honda will not implement mandatory vaccinations.

Therefore, we will be required to proceed with the development of a testing program. Honda plans to develop an internal testing process that will come at no cost to associates. Administering a testing program of this scale is highly complicated with many details to be worked out, but we will continue to communicate any updates with associates as soon as possible. 

The ETS is being challenged in court, and OSHA is not currently enforcing the ETS. However, until the courts issue a final decision, we are preparing ourselves for compliance.

Therefore, Honda is proceeding and preparing to be compliant with the ETS. All associates can begin to report their vaccination status. This information will remain confidential in accordance with law. Contingent associates and contractors should follow the guidelines of their employers.

Important: If you have provided your vaccination status for Honda’s Voluntary Vaccine Incentive program, you do not need to provide this information again. Below is additional information for those who will report their status:

• You will need to describe your current vaccination status as one of the following:

  • Fully vaccinated (2 weeks after receiving final vaccination dose – not including booster);

  • Partially (not fully) vaccinated;

  • Not vaccinated; or

  • Not fully vaccinated because of a medical condition related to the vaccine, disability or religious reason.

• The link or QR code below will allow you to report your status. Please, only one report per associate unless you are updating your existing status.

• Associates who do not qualify as fully vaccinated in the list above, along with those who do not report their vaccination status, will be subject to the conditions of Honda’s Weekly COVID-19 Testing Policy that will begin January 4 if required. Associates may become vaccinated by January 4 and update their status to avoid participating in the Weekly Testing Program.

• Associates providing verified proof of vaccination status will continue to be eligible for the vaccination incentive program. This program does not pertain to contingent associates and contractors who should follow the guidelines of their employers.

Regardless of vaccination status, associates must continue to promptly notify Honda of a positive test result by calling the Honda COVID-19 Helpline at 1-877-809-0051. Associates at Honda Aero and Honda Aircraft Company should contact their local HR. Associates at South Carolina Manufacturing should call their local health center at 843-346-8199. Remember, associates who test positive are not allowed to enter the workplace until they meet specific return to work criteria.

Additional information will continue to be provided as we work through this ETS and the impact to Honda and our associates. While we respect associates’ right to make their own decisions when it comes to their health, we will continue our current approach of requiring masks in the workplace, encouraging associates to get the vaccine and offering a cash incentive for those associates who are or become fully vaccinated.