On June 11, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) issued an update to its COVID-19 technical assistance publication. The
update provides new guidance for employers on the topics of
accommodating employees with family members at high risk of severe
illness from COVID-19, handling pandemic-related harassment,
caregiver responsibilities, and pregnancy issues. Here is what you
need to know:
Accommodating Employees With High-Risk Family Members
The EEOC affirms that employers are not required to provide
accommodations to employees with family members who are at high
risk for COVID-19 due to a family member's underlying medical
condition, stating that the "ADA [Americans with Disabilities
Act] does not require that an employer accommodate an employee
without a disability based on the disability-related needs of a
family member or other person with whom she is
associated."
