WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation on Friday welcomed guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission indicating that companies can reward employees who get vaccinated.

“Retailers have consistently recommended that employees and customers get vaccinated against COVID-19, barring a disability or religious-based objection,” said Edward Egee, NRF vice president of government relations and workforce development. “To date, half of the United States population has been fully vaccinated. Nearly four months ago, NRF and other trade associations petitioned the EEOC to issue guidance providing clarification on the extent to which employers may offer their employees incentives to vaccinate.

“The National Retail Federation is pleased the EEOC has finally acted and clarified that nothing in federal law prevents an employer from offering a vaccination incentive to an employee, provided the employee receives the vaccination from a third party (e.g., pharmacy, health care provider or public clinic). Further, employers may request these employees provide documentation or other confirmation of vaccination.”