The Connecticut Human Rights and Opportunity Commission (CHRO) recently released guidance on COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Unlike New York City, Connecticut does not impose a mandatory vaccination requirement on private employers or their employees. However, private employers are allowed to impose a vaccine mandate, subject to requests for accommodation. Amanda DeMatteis, an attorney who represents employees in state and federal courts, explains that employers must provide the accommodation unless it would result in an undue hardship for the business.
Employers must also reasonably accommodate disabled employees, including those with disabilities that could prevent them from receiving the vaccine. The guidance states that religious beliefs are sincerely held and medical conditions are important enough to merit an exemption. Vaccination mandates don't solve every problem an employer has in dealing with the pandemic, but they do help with quarantines, contact tracing, symptom tracking, travel restrictions, paid time off, and more. For company staff coordinating these efforts, keeping up with the changing regulatory landscape of COVID-19 remains a challenge.
The survey found that 43% of Connecticut restaurateurs say business conditions are worse today than they were three months ago. As the snow begins to melt and troubled Northeasterners see the rising signs of spring, many investment managers are reopening their doors or revitalizing their efforts to attract employees back to the office. The right Connecticut employment lawyer can help ensure that your rights as an employee are fully protected. If your employer has a voluntary vaccination policy and you “choose to receive the vaccine” then you are also “choosing to answer pre-screening questions.” We serve all of Connecticut, including New Haven County (Waterbury to Shoreline), Fairfield County (Greenwich to Westport and Bridgeport), Hartford County, Middlesex County (including Middletown), and New London County.