New contracts with state government will be subject to vaccine, testing mandates

Gov. Phil Murphy announced at his twice-a-week Covid briefing today that, going forward, all employees of contractors signing new contracts with the state of New Jersey will be required to either be vaccinated or submit to a weekly testing.

The new executive order parallels a previously announced mandate for all state workers, with one key distinction: the order is prospective, and will not yet come into effect for those employed under existing contracts. It does apply to all contracted workers, including those working in construction and cleaning.

In announcing the new policy, Murphy said it was meant to address the current discrepancy between those employed directly by the state and those working under contractors, since both work in state buildings and are equally vulnerable to Covid.

“The virus does not know your employment status,” Murphy said. “Therefore, we should not have some artificial distinction as a result.”

State-contracted workers now become the fourth broad category of worker in New Jersey subject to a vaccine-or-testing mandate; earlier orders applied to state workers, school and child care personnel, and health care workers.