Fast Facts From The EEOC In The Wake Of COVID-19

• The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) enforces workplace anti-discrimination laws including:
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
  • The Rehabilitation Act,
  • The requirement for reasonable accommodation and rules about medical examinations and inquiries.
• The ADA and Rehabilitation Act rules continue to apply during the pandemic
  • They do not interfere or prevent employers from following CDC guidelines and suggestions about steps employers should take regarding COVID-19.
• The EEOC has provided guidance, consistent with these workplace protections and rules, that can aid employers with strategies to navigate the impact of COVID-19 in the workplace.
• The EEOC guidance identifies relevant established ADA and Rehabilitation Act principles and answers questions frequently asked about the workplace during a global pandemic or similar events.
  • Some of the questions answered:
    • How much information may an employer request from an employee who calls in sick, in order to protect the rest of its workforce during a Coronavirus-like event?
    • When may an ADA-covered employer take the body temperature of employees during a Coronavirus-like event?
    • Does the ADA allow employers to require employees to stay home if they have symptoms of the Coronavirus?
    • When employees return to work, does the ADA allow employers to require doctors’ notes certifying their fitness for duty?

For Business and Employer Guidance from the CDC, visit: https://bit.ly/3frjM3n

For EEOC Pandemic Preparedness Guidance, visit: https://bit.ly/3fv797B 

This information has been prepared by Validity Screening Solutions for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. The content is intended for general information purposes only, and you are urged to consult a lawyer concerning your own situation and any specific legal questions you may have.