The new law requires that, if a Kansas employer imposes a COVID vaccination requirement, the employer shall exempt an employee if the employee submits a written waiver request to the employer stating that complying with such requirement would either (1) endanger the life or health of the employee or an individual who resides with the employee, or (2) violate the employee's sincerely held religious beliefs. The law defines religious beliefs to include, but not limited to, "theistic and non-theistic moral and ethical beliefs as to what is right and wrong that are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views." In addition, the new law requires that employers shall grant an exemption to vaccine requirements based on sincerely held religious beliefs "without inquiring into the sincerity of the request." Employees must provide a written statement by a physician, or similar practitioner, supporting a request for medical exemption.

 

The law also provides that employees who lose their job for failing to comply with an employer's vaccine requirement, and assert that their employer violated the new provisions of the law, will not be deemed disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits on grounds that the employee violated an employee work rule in refusing to be vaccinated. Unemployment benefits for these employees can be paid retroactively during the period September 9, 2021 through the effective date of the law.

 

Learn more here.