Even though numerous employers have returned to work following the pandemic, many have opted to maintain on-site COVID precautions to err on the safe side. While some organizations have chosen to require proof of vaccination or a negative test result, others have gone as far as mandating onsite testing.
Throughout the pandemic, the EEOC has updated the technical assistance manual regarding the handling of COVID-19 in the workplace to make sure employees stay protected through anti-discrimination laws. In the latest update on July 12th, the EEOC revised their requirements for mandatory testing. The new guidelines state,
“If an employer seeks to implement screening testing for employees, such testing must meet the “business necessity” standard based on relevant facts.”
EEOC continued by outlining for employers possible considerations that would fall under “business necessity,” including the following:
With this new update, the onus is on employers to ensure compliance regarding any mandatory COVID-19 testing policies. While staying up to date with EEOC policy may cost your organization time and other valuable resources on the front end, it could save your organization a much more costly headache on the backend.
If your company currently requires mandatory COVID-19 testing in your workplace or is considering it, it’s crucial to ensure you remain compliant with the EEOC’s guidelines. BerniePortal’s Compliance feature allows small to midsize organizations to stay on top of compliance by maintaining document storage in one central hub, eliminating tedious administrative work.
Suppose your organization finds mandatory COVID-19 testing falls under a business necessity. BerniePortal can help keep track of the compliance paperwork by distributing documents, gathering e-signatures when needed, and sending helpful reminders to employees to ensure timeliness. Your organization can also upload EEOC documents into BerniePortal, allowing you to refer to them anytime.
You can stay informed, educated, and up-to-date with important HR topics using BerniePortal’s comprehensive resources: