In an effort to keep employers informed, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its technical assistance publication focused on COVID-19 issues. The questions and concerns are important for general employers, as well as federal contractors obligated to OFCCP and its regulations.
EEOC’s updates address many of the common questions resulting from the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws enacted to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the piece, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” employers learn can learn about various plans and best practices for employees returning to the workplace.
The publication offers employers insight into how employees can make disability accommodation requests ahead of time, including flexibility arrangements. These requests can be made ahead of time and allows employers to consider them individually.
The latest additions to the publication and frequently asked questions section also touch on some more specific area related to COVID-19, as well as employee caretakers and those with family responsibility:
Furthermore, EEOC provides information on harassment in the workplace toward employees of Chinese or other Asian descent. The publication discusses strategies to prevent such harassment and reminds employers that employees can be harassed remotely or in person.
You can find additional employment resources – with a focus on COVID-19 concerns in the workplace – on EEOC’s website. EEOC and LocalJobNetwork are committed to keeping employers and employees informed of their rights amid the continued developments on this topic, whether it is related to OFCCP, diversity, or general employment practices.