The standard needs to be terminated.  This can in no way keep up with the science.  (and at least one board member ranted about following the science on one of the electronic meetings).  

The standard is overly burdensome for small businesses that are already struggling.

The standard encourages dishonesty.  Employers are encouraged to lie in order to have to do less to comply.  Employees are encouraged to lie so they aren't discriminated against.  They are also encouraged to lie so they don't lose weeks worth of pay that they can't afford.

The state of emergency is over.  Since or Governor also says we are following the science and the science says we don't need a state of emergency, then we don't need the FPS.  

Perception is reality.  It seems that from reading through the comments that the perception of many is that keeping this standard is just a power move.  It is also a way to cause businesses to have to shut down.  I am sure that DOLI and the Board will say that is not the case but again, it is the perception.

DOLI and the Board are perceived to be pushing vaccination on employees in Virginia.  That would be fine if all of these people were proven scientists that can verify that there will be no adverse affects to anyone from the vaccine but none of these people fit that description.

The electronic meetings make a mockery of this process.  Board members do not treat each other with respect and several members like to make it well known that they don't like it when someone disagrees with their POV.  The number of sighs and groans from board members who forget to mute themselves is utterly ridiculous.  The best was when Ms. Jolly blurted out an expletive in response to a board member she disagreed with, or should we call that the worst.  In listening to all of the meetings it seems like Ms. Jolly is just on the board to try to boost her consultation business and not really there for a meaningful reason.  (just my perception)

Where is the documentation that justifies continuing the FPS?  Please do not point to any mainstream new outlet.  Let's see actual published scientific documentation.  Why do we only hear from Mr. Withrow. (Often Mr. Withrow seems to be mocking board members and public commenters) What about the DOLI staff that actually have health and safety knowledge?  What about the staff that see the struggles that employees and employers alike are going through?  Where are the independent experts that can verify the need to continue the standard?

Here is another big question; why does DOLI make it so hard to find out when these meetings and comment periods are happening?  Posting notices at the last minute and hiding them on separate pages make it very hard for an average person to see what is going on.  The perception here is that DOLI wants to have as little comment and interaction from the public as possible.  That way they can just push through their own agenda.

I know that none of these comments are going to make a difference.  Mr. Withrow will minimize most of them and say how the commenters don't understand what they are talking about because they still refer to the standard as the ETS.  Many of the board members will also disregard the comments and even the employees that they are supposed to be representing just because they want to prove how right that their opinion is.  At the end of the day employees like myself will be stuck following pointless restrictions that our employers are forced to enact upon us.  That is unless I decide that I can just lie everyday so I don't have to do as much.

Repeal the standard.  The amendments are garbage and will only cause discord and chaos in the workplace.