Archive for October 26, 2021

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEOC has provided updates to the COVID-19 guidance on workplace vaccine issues and the workers who are seeking religious exemptions. This update was provided while we wait for OSHA to issue the new regulation that would require all U.S. businesses with 100 or more employees to mandate vaccines or require regular testing.

The EEOC made it clear that an employee seeking a religious exemption to the vaccine mandate is protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when the vaccination requirement conflicts

Under recent OSHA guidelines, healthcare workers may be entitled to paid leave following exhaustion of PTO if one of the following applies: 1) the healthcare employee tested positive for Covid-19, 2) the healthcare employee’s doctor diagnoses suspected Covid-19, 3) the healthcare employee has a fever of 100.4°F or, 4) the healthcare employee experiences loss of taste and smell. Employers can require at-home work if possible and can require testing. Once the employee tests negative, the benefit ends. Long hauler Covid patients may also be eligible for extended pay. It should