Q: Termination for not getting covid vaccine
Is a religious accommodation request my only option in the state of Oregon to prevent me from getting terminated for not getting a vaccine? Its my understanding that because there is only an EUA and no FDA approval,covid vaccine can't be mandated.
A: Generally, employers are permitted to require their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, there are two exceptions to this rule - the religious accommodation you've mentioned, and an exception for individuals with disabilities who are unable to receive the vaccine because of their disability. If either of these apply to you, then you are permitted to request an accommodation in the form of exemption to the vaccination requirement. However, your employer has certain defenses it can use and does not have to grant any accommodation requested, so you should be prepared to discuss other accommodations that would allow you to continue safely performing your job duties as well (example: wearing additional personal protective equipment, physical barriers or space between co-workers, etc.).
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