06/11/2020

EEOC: Be Flexible, Proactive With Accommodations

Help employees who've been working from home by providing proactive aid

As HR and business leaders strategize their reopening plans, it’s important to consider which employees may need a reasonable accommodation before asking them to return to the office, said Kimberly Smith-Brown, spokesperson for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Although the EEOC has not specifically addressed the various phases of reopening, agencies that want to be proactive can provide employees who have been teleworking due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) information on disability-related requests for continued telework or other flexible arrangements, Smith-Brown says. This includes employees who may have an underlying condition that makes them more vulnerable to COVID-19 and those over 65.

“Employers may want to begin to provide this information even if return-to-worksite dates have not yet been determined,” she added. “This allows the employer to invite advance requests and information to begin its planning process, and to begin discussions with those employees who request such arrangements.”

Please select this link to read the complete article from Human Resources Executive.