As an employer, it’s important for you to stay up-to-date on the latest laws and changes in the Americans with Disabilities Act. With the pandemic, it’s particularly important that you focus on doing what is right while taking steps to protect your business against liability.
Employers are responsible for following current guidance from the CDC regarding safety during the pandemic, even as the recommendations continue to change. They must also obey the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s rules in regards to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other important regulations. There is guidance available from both the CDC and the EEOC that may be helpful.
Are there specific pandemic protection measures that employers should know about?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission created a publication called the Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans With Disabilities Act. This has information that can help employers know what to do to protect their employees and to adjust to the impact of a pandemic on the workforce.
This document was written during the H1N1 pandemic, but it is still used in 2020-2021. Any new information added will be marked appropriately in bold, so that employers know which pieces of information specifically apply to COVID-19.
There are many new rules and regulations to follow, including from that state regulatory agencies that must also be reviewed and considered in protecting your business during the pandemic. If you have questions, it’s a good idea to read over the documentation from the CDC and EEOC carefully before you proceed.