Archive for May 2021
EEOC Greenlights Coronavirus Vaccine Requirements, Incentives — With Some Limits
Federal equal employment opportunity laws do not prohibit policies requiring that all employees who physically enter a workplace receive a COVID-19 vaccination, so long as such policies comply with the reasonable accommodation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as well as other applicable laws, according to…
Read MoreWhat Employers Need to Know About the New COBRA Subsidies
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides 100% premium assistance for eligible individuals under COBRA for a six-month period. Since its passage in 1985, COBRA has allowed qualified individuals who lose their health benefits due to a life event to continue to receive group health benefits for a set period of time. Continued coverage,…
Read MoreEmployers Should Start Preparing Their EEO-1 Reports Now
After a long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has opened the EEO-1 portal for employers to submit demographic data about their workforces. Businesses with 100 or more employees and some federal contractors with at least 50 employees must submit an annual EEO-1 form, which asks for information from…
Read MoreNLRB Looks to Circumstances to Determine Duration of Confidentiality Requirement in Investigation
In Alcoa Corp., the National Labor Relations Board addressed an important issue to both non-union and unionized employers alike concerning workplace investigations. Most importantly, the Board reaffirmed that an employer does not violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) when it instructs employees to keep investigative interviews confidential for the duration of the workplace investigation.…
Read MoreEmployers React to Workers Who Refuse a COVID-19 Vaccination
As COVID-19 vaccines become widely available, many employers are asking if they can require employees to get vaccinated, and what they can do if workers refuse. Some employers are firing workers who won’t take the vaccine. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has weighed in with guidance that answers some workplace vaccination questions. Employers may encourage or…
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