After this Memorial Day weekend, there is some light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel as many employers begin welcoming employees back to their physical offices. If you’re an employer who is navigating this process, many questions will arise as you tiptoe through the minefield of pandemic-related employment laws.
For that reason, we suggest all employers consult the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (“EEOC”) Technical Assistance Questions and Answers, which was updated last Friday.
This update conveniently divides employers’ most commonly asked questions into eleven categories, as follows:
- Disability-Related Inquiries and Medical Examinations
- Confidentiality of Medical Information
- Hiring and Onboarding
- Reasonable Accommodation
- Pandemic-Related Harassment Due to National Origin, Race or Other Protected Characteristics
- Furloughs and Layoffs
- Return to Work
- Age
- Caregivers/Family Responsibilities
- Pregnancy
- Vaccinations
Much can be written about each topic, but we suggest all employers start by consulting this publication.
If you have specific questions, please reach out to Steven Adler.