The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated a previous pronouncement it issued earlier in the Coronavirus pandemic. The EEOC, relying on guidance from the CDC, stated on June 17 that employers cannot require COVID-19 antibody testing before permitting employees to re-enter the workplace.  But, the EEOC reiterated that employers are still permitted to administer COVID-19 viral tests before allowing employees to return to the workplace.

In April, the Commission explained that under the ADA employers could administer COVID-19 viral testing—tests to detect the presence of the virus—because an employee with the virus would pose a direct threat to the health of others.

On June 17, the EEOC explained that the ADA dictated a different result for COVID-19 antibody testing.  These tests are used to detect who had the virus in the past.  Recent CDC guidance stated that the results of COVID-19 antibody tests “should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace.” Read More >