6 steps for return-to work rules for Covid-19-vulnerable employees

Excerpted from The Business Journals by Jayde M. Ashford

As employers across the nation contemplate return-to-work protocols, many have concerns that employees with preexisting conditions may be in danger if they return to work and are exposed to Covid-19. In its latest guidance entitled “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) answered some common questions regarding its position on employer duties with respect to Covid-19 vulnerable employees.

Follow these six steps to help your company navigate the process of protecting employees who are at higher risk for severe illness from Covid-19 without jeopardizing business needs.

1. Understand which employees may be at higher risk

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has established that certain medical conditions may make individuals more susceptible in the event of a Covid-19 exposure, or might put them at higher risk than the general population if they are infected with the virus. According to CDC guidance, those at high risk for severe illness from Covid-19 are:

People 65 years and older

People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including but not limited to people with compromised immune systems, people with heart conditions or lung disease, and people with diabetes.
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