California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing issues updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations

This past month, the DFEH issued new guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccine requirements for employees. The key takeaways are:

1. An employer may require employees to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
2. If an employer requires vaccination for its employees, it must reasonably accommodate those employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs and practices.
3. Employers are not required under the state Fair Employment and Housing Act to reasonably accommodate employees who refuse the vaccine because they do not "trust that the vaccine is safe."
4. If an employer itself administers the COVID-19 vaccination to its employees, it may ask the employees for relevant medical information before vaccination.

An employer may require its employees to provide proof of vaccination.