The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated its guidance related to return to work after COVID-19 related shutdowns or remote working. Some important updates from the EEOC are as follows:
- The EEO laws, including the ADA and Rehabilitation Act, continue to apply during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they do not interfere with or prevent employers from following the guidelines and suggestions made by the CDC or state/local public health authorities about steps employers should take regarding COVID-19. Employers should remember that guidance from public health authorities is likely to change as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves. Therefore, employers should continue to follow the most current information on maintaining workplace safety.
- The EEOC has provided guidance (a publication entitled Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans With Disabilities Act [PDF version]), consistent with these workplace protections and rules, that can help employers implement strategies to navigate the impact of COVID-19 in the workplace. This pandemic publication, which was written during the prior H1N1 outbreak, is still relevant today and identifies established ADA and Rehabilitation Act principles to answer questions frequently asked about the workplace during a pandemic. It has been updated as of March 19, 2020 to address examples and information regarding COVID-19; the new 2020 information appears in bold and is marked with an asterisk.
Further information in regards to the guidance can be found on the EEOC’s website, by clicking HERE.
Our team at Goodman McGuffey is continuously monitoring the decisions of the courts and the CDC’s Guidelines to ensure the safety of our staff and clients across all offices and states.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. Stay safe and stay well.
