A hearing date for the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine rules, a boost in holiday spending, and increased emphasis on taking time off are among the top business news items this morning.
National
The Supreme Court has set Jan. 7 to hear oral arguments on lawsuits challenging the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine rules, including one requiring employers with 100 or more workers to establish vaccination policies. This date is three days before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is scheduled to begin enforcing the emergency temporary standard applying to larger employers.
Business trends
Holiday spending in the United States increased 8.5 percent compared to 2020. The boost was assisted by early shoppers concerned about supply chain problems and inventory shortages, which helped offset disruptions created by the COVID-19 Omicron variant during the last days of shopping.
Company leaders are looking to combat worker burnout by putting increased emphasis on mandatory time off. Managers are also seeking to enforce a full disconnect from work during vacation as remote work has blurred the work-life divide.