--- title: EEOC Publishes Updated COVID Guidance description: EEOC Publishes Updated COVID Guidance image: https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/employees-with-mask-2.jpg --- - [Secure File Transfer](https://affiliatedpayroll.myfileguardian.com/PostOffice/Main.aspx) - [Employee Log-In](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/employee-login/) - [Employer Log-In](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/client-login-portals/) [Request A Quote](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/request-a-quote/) [![Affiliated HR & Payroll Services](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/images/Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-dark.png?width=310&height=250&name=Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-dark.png "Affiliated HR & Payroll Services")](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/) - [About](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/about/) - Solutions - [HR Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/) - [Employee Self Service](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/employee-self-service/) - [Employee Handbook](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/employee-handbook/) - [HR Support Center](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/hr-support-center/) - [Performance Reviews](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/performance-reviews/) - [Labor Law Posters](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/labor-law-posters/) - [Unemployment Claims Management](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/unemployment-claims-management/) - [E-Verify](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/e-verify/) - [Payroll Solutions](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/) - [Tax Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/tax-services/) - [General Ledger](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/general-ledger/) - [Report Writer](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/report-writer/) - [Paycheck Options](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/paycheck-options/) - [POS Interfaces](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/pos-interfaces/) - [Certified Payroll](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/certified-payroll/) - [Tax Credits](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/tax-credits/) - [Time & Labor Management Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/) - [Timekeeping](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/timekeeping/) - [Time Off Requests](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/time-off-requests/) - [Scheduling](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/scheduling/) - [Time Clocks](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/time-clocks/) - [Benefits Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/) - [Health Benefit Administration](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/health-benefit-administration/) - [ACA Compliance](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/aca-comliance/) - [Section 125](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/section-125/) - [COBRA Administration](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/cobra-administration/) - [Talent Solutions](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/) - [Recruitment & Applicant Tracking](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/recruitment-applicant-tracking/) - [Background Screening](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/background-screening/) - [Employee Onboarding](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/employee-onboarding/) - [Employee Engagement](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/employee-engagement/) - [Platform](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/platform/) - [Resources](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/resources/) - [Partners](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/partners/) - [Blog](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com) - [Contact Us](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/contact-us/) - [About](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/about/) - Solutions - [HR Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/) - [Employee Self Service](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/employee-self-service/) - [Employee Handbook](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/employee-handbook/) - [HR Support Center](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/hr-support-center/) - [Performance Reviews](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/performance-reviews/) - [Labor Law Posters](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/labor-law-posters/) - [Unemployment Claims Management](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/unemployment-claims-management/) - [E-Verify](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/hr-services/e-verify/) - [Payroll Solutions](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/) - [Tax Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/tax-services/) - [General Ledger](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/general-ledger/) - [Report Writer](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/report-writer/) - [Paycheck Options](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/paycheck-options/) - [POS Interfaces](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/pos-interfaces/) - [Certified Payroll](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/certified-payroll/) - [Tax Credits](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/payroll-solutions/tax-credits/) - [Time & Labor Management Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/) - [Timekeeping](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/timekeeping/) - [Time Off Requests](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/time-off-requests/) - [Scheduling](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/scheduling/) - [Time Clocks](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/time-labor-management-services/time-clocks/) - [Benefits Services](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/) - [Health Benefit Administration](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/health-benefit-administration/) - [ACA Compliance](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/aca-comliance/) - [Section 125](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/section-125/) - [COBRA Administration](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/benefits-services/cobra-administration/) - [Talent Solutions](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/) - [Recruitment & Applicant Tracking](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/recruitment-applicant-tracking/) - [Background Screening](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/background-screening/) - [Employee Onboarding](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/employee-onboarding/) - [Employee Engagement](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/solutions/talent-solutions/employee-engagement/) - [Platform](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/platform/) - [Resources](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/resources/) - [Partners](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/partners/) - [Blog](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com) - [Contact Us](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/contact-us/) ![EEOC Publishes Updated COVID Guidance](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/employees-with-mask-2.jpg) # EEOC Publishes Updated COVID Guidance - Home - [Affiliated HR Payroll Blog](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com) - EEOC Publishes Updated COVID Guidance [Afilliated HR & Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin) 07/07/2021 [EEOC](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/eeoc), [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/equal-employment-opportunity-commission), [COVID-19](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/covid-19), [Alert](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/alert), [Health & Safety](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/health-safety) [0 Comments](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/eeoc-publishes-updated-covid-guidance#postComment) 2 Minutes As workplaces resume in-person operations, or at least consider doing so, there are many questions about the rules and requirements. However, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission[ has published a lengthy Q&A](https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=) to help make sure everyone knows how to proceed. Managers and employees may want to review the entire document, but can get started with some of the key points: - **Does the ADA allow employers to require employees to stay home if they have symptoms of the COVID-19?** Yes. The CDC states that employees who become ill with symptoms of COVID-19 should leave the workplace. The ADA does not interfere with employers following this advice. - **When employees return to work, does the ADA allow employers to require a doctor's note certifying fitness for duty? **Yes. Such inquiries are permitted under the ADA either because they would not be disability-related or, if the pandemic were truly severe, they would be justified under the ADA standards for disability-related inquiries of employees. - **Under the ADA, Title VII, and other federal employment nondiscrimination laws, may an employer require all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19?** The federal EEO laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19, subject to the reasonable accommodation provisions of Title VII and the ADA and other EEO considerations. As with any employment policy, employers that have a vaccine requirement may need to respond to allegations that the requirement has a disparate impact on—or disproportionately excludes—employees based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin under Title VII (or age under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (40+)). - **What are some examples of reasonable accommodations or modifications that employers may have to provide to employees who do not get vaccinated due to disability; religious beliefs, practices, or observance; or pregnancy?** For example, as a reasonable accommodation, 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. - **Under the ADA, may an employer offer an incentive to employees to voluntarily provide documentation or other confirmation that they received a vaccination on their own from a pharmacy, public health department, or other health care provider in the community? **Yes.  Requesting documentation or other confirmation showing that an employee received a COVID-19 vaccination in the community is not a disability-related inquiry covered by the ADA. - **Under the ADA, may an employer offer an incentive to employees for voluntarily receiving a vaccination administered by the employer or its agent?** Yes, if any incentive (which includes both rewards and penalties) is not so substantial as to be coercive.  Because vaccinations require employees to answer pre-vaccination disability-related screening questions, a very large incentive could make employees feel pressured to disclose protected medical information. **What's the Bottom Line?** According to an article from the Society for Human Resource Management, the new guidance contains four key takeaways: 1. Explore reasonable accommodations. 2. Carefully consider incentives. 3. Beware of disparate impact. 4. Treat vaccination records confidentially. Again, this article is just a summary. Read the full guidance to make sure you're in compliance, and consult qualified professionals for your particular situation. --- #### Tag: [EEOC](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/eeoc) [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/equal-employment-opportunity-commission) [COVID-19](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/covid-19) [Alert](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/alert) [Health & Safety](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/health-safety) #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/eeoc-publishes-updated-covid-guidance) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/eeoc-publishes-updated-covid-guidance&text=EEOC%20Publishes%20Updated%20COVID%20Guidance) - [Follow us on Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/eeoc-publishes-updated-covid-guidance) - [Follow us on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/eeoc-publishes-updated-covid-guidance&text=EEOC%20Publishes%20Updated%20COVID%20Guidancedescription=As%20workplaces%20resume%20in-person%20operations,%20or%20at%20least%20consider%20doing%20so,%20there%20are%20many%20questions%20about%20the%20rules%20and%20requirements.%20However,%20the%20Equal[...]&media=https://45831542.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/45831542/Imported_Blog_Media/employees-with-mask-2.jpg) --- #### [News Brief: Juneteenth Becomes a Federal Holiday Previous Post](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/news-brief-juneteenth-becomes-a-federal-holiday) #### [The Myers-Briggs Test: How Can You Use It? Next Post](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/the-myers-briggs-test-how-can-you-use-it) --- ## Related Posts [Mental Health](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/mental-health), [Mental Health Benefits](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/mental-health-benefits), [Health & Safety](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/health-safety) [Afilliated HR & Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin) 19 January, 2023 #### [Reap Rewards With Mental Health Benefits](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/reap-rewards-with-mental-health-benefits) What does the term "well-being" mean for each of the individuals you employ? Take some time to… [Read More](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/reap-rewards-with-mental-health-benefits) [Performance Management](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/performance-management), [Mental Health](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/mental-health), [Mental Health in the Workplace](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/mental-health-in-the-workplace), [Mental Health Benefits](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/mental-health-benefits), [Health & Safety](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/health-safety) [Afilliated HR & Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin) 07 July, 2022 #### [Five Ways to Promote Mental Health in the Workplace](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/five-ways-to-promote-mental-health-in-the-workplace) In a survey by McKinsey & Company, 75 percent of employers acknowledged that there’s a stigma… [Read More](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/five-ways-to-promote-mental-health-in-the-workplace) [COVID-19 Vaccine](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/covid-19-vaccine), [Alert](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/alert), [Health & Safety](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/health-safety), [vaccine](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/vaccine), [COVID](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/tag/covid) [Afilliated HR & Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin) 06 October, 2021 #### [Biden's Announcement: Mandatory Vaccinations for Private Employers](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/bidens-announcement-about-mandatory-vaccinations-for-private-employers) If you have fewer than 100 employees, no federal contracts, and no healthcare workers, these new… [Read More](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/bidens-announcement-about-mandatory-vaccinations-for-private-employers) ![Affiliated HR Payroll](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-light.png?width=750&name=Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-light.png "Affiliated HR Payroll") [![Accredited Business](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/blue-seal-293-61-whitetxt-bbb-90053136.png?width=293&name=blue-seal-293-61-whitetxt-bbb-90053136.png "Accredited Business")](https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/stafford/profile/payroll-services/affiliated-payroll-services-0915-90053136/#sealclick) ![Satisfaction Stamp](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/100-satisfaction-stamp.png?width=160&name=100-satisfaction-stamp.png "Satisfaction Stamp") ![Isolved-Network](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/Isolved-Network.png?width=451&name=Isolved-Network.png "Isolved-Network") #### RESOURCES & LINKS - [AHRP Resources](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/resources/) - [Blog](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/) - [Request A Quote](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/request-a-quote/) - [Employer Log-In](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/client-login-portals/) - [Employee Log-In](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/employee-login/) - [Secure File Transfer](https://affiliatedpayroll.myfileguardian.com/PostOffice/Main.aspx) - [Privacy/Terms of Use](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/privacy-terms-of-use/) [![facebook](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/icon-facebook.png?width=100&name=icon-facebook.png "facebook")](https://www.facebook.com/AffiliatedHRPayroll/) [![Youtube](https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Affiliated_HR_Payroll_Services_June2024/Images/icon-youtube.png?width=100&name=icon-youtube.png "Youtube")](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxFmvmFA1inMJk28v4QlTNA) #### NEWSLETTER SIGNUP © 2026 Affiliated HR & Payroll [All Rights Reserved.](https://affiliatedhrpayroll.com/privacy-terms-of-use/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Afilliated HR & Payroll", "url" : "https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/author/ahrp-admin" }, "dateModified" : "2024-07-16T13:50:53.747Z", "datePublished" : "2021-07-07T14:16:36.000Z", "headline" : "EEOC Publishes Updated COVID Guidance", "image" : [ "https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/employees-with-mask-2.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/eeoc-publishes-updated-covid-guidance", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.affiliatedhrpayroll.com/hubfs/Affiliated%20Logos/Affiliated-HR-Payroll-logo-dark.png" } } } ```