Low-Level manager at my employer asks everyone, "What's your vaccination status?"

There are trade show events coming up. Some of the venues are indicating that they are going to require a vaccination card or the results of a PCR test within 72 hours of attending in order to enter the facilities. So I understand why the company would want that information. Sending people to an event is expensive only to have them turned away. Nevertheless, I write back (and copy my HR director):

quote:

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Hi (Mr. Low-Level Manager),

Vaccination status is medical information that should be addressed directly between an employee and HR, so that confidential information is kept separated from personnel files and not shared indiscriminately. I understand why you need to know for business planning, but the EEOC, in its publication on the rules and regulations around this, state in Section K, item K.4:

"The ADA requires an employer to maintain the confidentiality of employee medical information, such as documentation or other confirmation of COVID-19 vaccination. This ADA confidentiality requirement applies regardless of where the employee gets the vaccination. Although the EEO laws themselves do not prevent employers from requiring employees to bring in documentation or other confirmation of vaccination, this information, like all medical information, must be kept confidential and stored separately from the employee’s personnel files under the ADA."

Here is the link: https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws

In my opinion, you should not be receiving this information yourself from employees in this manner. It seems like HR should be handling this, managing the data, and just confirming to you and other management that someone can or cannot attend an event under the conditions you described without directly revealing personal medical information.

Happy to discuss, but I think this needs to be handled by HR in a manner that insures confidentiality to employees.

HB

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So, I pushed back on this, even though I'm vaccinated. I don't mind sharing that information with HR, but I believe, in this situation, that this low-level manager is well-meaning, but acting outside his lane.