EEOC Issues Updated COVID-19 Technical Assistance Publication

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated their technical assistance publication addressing Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The publication, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” includes a new section with information about how a COVID-19 vaccination interacts with the legal requirements of existing laws. This includes issues pertaining to

disability-related inquiries and medical exams
confidentiality of medical information
hiring and onboarding
reasonable accomodation
pandemic-related harassment due to national origin, race, or other protected characteristics
furloughs and layoffs
return to work
age
caregiver/family responsibilities
pregnancy
vaccinations

Issues regarding mandatory vaccinations are discussed in Section K. The EEOC has provided resources on its website related to the pandemic in an employment context.