The short answer is yes. As the numbers of people testing positive for Covid-19 the continue to rise, so are the number of employers that are requiring their employees get vaccinated. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) takes the position that requiring vaccines as a condition to physically be at work does not violate any federal employment law. At least one federal district court has agreed with the EEOC that employers can require their employees to get vaccinated as a condition of employment.

There are circumstances when an employee’s disability prohibits them from getting vaccinated. In those circumstances the employer may have to provide the employee with a reasonable accommodation that does not pose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer’s business.  Some examples of reasonable accommodations are, an unvaccinated employee entering the workplace might wear a face mask, work at a social distance from coworkers or non-employees, work a modified shift, get periodic tests for COVID-19, be given the opportunity to telework, or finally, accept a reassignment.

Please call Thompson Legal Center at 813-769-3900 if you have any questions regarding harassment or discrimination at work.