Universal Orlando ‘reviewing’ Supreme Court ruling affecting employee COVID-19 vaccine policy

Two days after it was announced, the Universal Orlando Resort’s COVID-19 vaccination policy for employees has lost the federal regulation that provided its basis, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority on the court blocked the Biden administration’s requirement that companies with 100 or more employees require workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine or be tested weekly. The rationale for the ruling was that such a broad mandate exceeds the authority of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Since the Universal Orlando policy was crafted to be in compliance with the OSHA standard, team members can expect to get an update on whether the policy will still be enforced. 

“We are reviewing the Supreme Court ruling and will be communicating with our team members soon,” Universal Orlando spokesperson Tom Schroeder told Theme Park Tribune. 

Complicating the matter is a Florida law banning private employers from enforcing their own COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Disney World suspended its own vaccination requirement because of the law last year.