Oklahoma Businesses Respond To Federal Vaccine Requirements

Some Green Country businesses are giving us their thoughts about President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for businesses with at least 100 employees.

The mandate would affect thousands of Oklahoma businesses. The White House announced yesterday that is now putting all businesses with 100 or more employees in the same boat: Each business must have every employee vaccinated or unvaccinated employees must get tested weekly for COVID-19.

The University of Tulsa says it is still reviewing the mandate but more than 80 percent of its staff and faculty are already fully vaccinated. TU officials say they already have testing sites around campus for students. That resource would also be available for employees.

American Airlines sent a statement that says this mandate will affect it as well as its 4,300 employees working at the Tulsa Maintenance Base.

In the statement, American Airlines says if an employee gets the vaccine American will give an extra day of vacation pay and $50 in Nonstop Thanks points.

News on 6 also spoke to the Public Service Company of Oklahoma. The utility says it is still reviewing the mandate but is not requiring employees to get vaccinated as of right now.

"We continue to focus on the health and safety of our employees and customers and have aligned our response to COVID-19 with guidance from state and federal health officials and our company doctor. We have strongly encouraged our employees to get vaccinated and have provided incentives to do so, but we are not currently requiring vaccines. We will be evaluating the Biden administration’s proposed rules to determine their impact on AEP."