Utah recently released the amended Workplace COVID-19 bill (SB 2004) to require an employer to pay for COVID-19 workplace testing; prohibit adverse action against an employee who claims relief; and prohibit an employer from keeping or maintaining a record or copy of an employee's proof of vaccination, except under certain conditions. An employer that employs 15 or more employees and requires employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine must relieve an employee of the requirement if the employee submits a statement that explains receiving a COVID-19 vaccine would be injurious to the health and well-being of the employee; conflict with a sincerely held religious belief; or conflict with a sincerely held personal belief.
Employers subject to this law should be mindful of this development, particularly if they currently are or plan to enforce a vaccine mandate while we wait for the outcome of the Supreme Court's January 7 hearing on the federal vaccine mandates.