One of the ten bills Governor Spencer Cox signed into law Tuesday requires employers to allow COVID-19 vaccine exemptions while prohibiting any action against employees who submit for exemption.S.B. 2004 says an employee can submit a statement to their employer seeking an exemption for medical, religious, or sincerely held belief. The bill also requires employers to pay for COVID-19 testing and prohibits them from keeping or maintaining records or copies of employee’s vaccination statuses.
Attorney Bryan Bernard, who works with local employers, says he believes this law creates a tug-of-war between the federal and state government, and it puts state businesses in the middle of it. Bernard also has concerns about the fact that there is “no guidance whatsoever on what a sincerely held personal belief is,” which may cause confusion in the workplace.
