Some Rochester business owners raise concern over Biden’s vaccine mandate

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The federal vaccine requirement announced by President Joe Biden last week has created another worry for businesses in the Rochester area.

Employers with more than 100 workers will have to mandate vaccinations against COVID-19 or offer weekly testing.

Wednesday night News10NBC talked to Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy.

He recalled a recent conversation with a local CEO who supports the vaccine, but not the business mandate.

Duffy said the CEO told him several of his employees are seeking employment with companies employing less than 100 people.

"[He told me] ‘my thing is our company is being targeted where if we don’t comply with masking or testing we’ll be penalized and employees who may for some reason not want to be vaccinated are choosing to look elsewhere,’ that was his concern," Duffy said.

Businesses are asking: Why not put the vaccination responsibility on the person instead of on the business?