---
title: COVID-19 and Caregiver Discrimination FAQs
description: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued FAQs regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on employees’ work and personal obligations.
---

[Employee Benefit News for School, City and County Employers ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com)

# [COVID-19 and Caregiver Discrimination FAQs](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/covid-19-and-caregiver-discrimination-faqs)

 Written by [Erin Woulfe](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/erin-woulfe) | Mar 22, 2022 1:22:38 PM

*2 minute read*

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued FAQs regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on employees’ work and personal obligations. They address how employers may approach the competing job and caregiving demands of their employees and applicants without violating EEOC-enforced federal fair employee laws during the pandemic.

While clarifying that caregiver status alone is not a protected trait under EEOC-enforced laws, the FAQs also describe how certain employer actions related to an individual’s caregiver status may be unlawful.

#### **Caregiver Discrimination**

Caregiver discrimination is unlawful when based on a protected trait like sex, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, age (40 or older), or genetic information.

#### **Association Discrimination**

It’s unlawful to discriminate based on the protected trait of an individual for whom an employee or applicant provides care.

 

#### **Caregiver Stereotyping**

Employers can’t base employment decisions on stereotypes related to gender or other protected traits, even if those decision are well-intentioned.

 

#### **Caregiver Accommodation**

While EEOC-enforced laws don’t impose any general requirement to accommodate employees’ caregiving duties, other laws may require leave or other adjustments.

[Download the bulletin](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/Blog%20-%20supporting%20documents/bulletin-eeoc-faqs-covid-caregiver.pdf) for more details.

** **

**Additional Resources**

[FAQs on COVID-19 and Caregiver Discrimination](https://www.eeoc.gov/newsroom/eeoc-releases-information-about-employment-discrimination-against-caregivers)

[Employer Best Practices for Workers with Caregiver Responsibilities](https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/employer-best-practices-workers-caregiving-responsibilities)

[Enforcement Guidance on Caregiver Discrimination](https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/enforcement-guidance-unlawful-disparate-treatment-workers-caregiving-responsibilities)

[What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA](https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws)

*This blog is intended to be a compilation of information and resources pulled from federal, state, and local agencies. This is not intended to be legal advice. For up to the minute information and guidance on COVID-19, please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local health organizations.*

[View full post](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/covid-19-and-caregiver-discrimination-faqs)

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