Shepler Quoted in Article Titled "Some large Ohio Employers Pause Vaccine Requirements Pending Legal Battle Over Biden Rule"

Ben Shepler, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in a Columbus Dispatch article titled "Some large Ohio Employers Pause Vaccine Requirements Pending Legal Battle Over Biden Rule".

The article states: 

"Many large Columbus-area employers including Honda, Kroger, Huntington and CoverMyMeds did not respond to Dispatch queries about their vaccine or testing requirements. Others, such as Cameron Mitchell Restaurants and White Castle, declined to comment.

"I think that a lot of the fear and the concern is growing out of other issues that exist, particularly the labor market concern," said Ben Shepler, a labor and employment attorney at Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease in Columbus.

"The biggest specific issue I'm hearing is, 'I cannot afford to lose folks.' And so I think that's going to drive a lot of a decision-making as to whether employers implement a full vaccine mandate or whether they allow for employees to opt for being tested weekly."

Shepler said the rule is so far-reaching that it may not survive legal challenges.

"It is certainly open to legal challenges on a variety of fronts," he said. "I would not be surprised if it ultimately never ended up going into effect."

Some companies are moving ahead with the vaccine requirement fully aware that the requirements are controversial. Battelle, a federal contractor, for example, requires employees to be vaccinated."

To read the full article, click here.