Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s return-to-office mandate is adding to tensions at the Virginia Department of Health, where at least two employees say they’ve been asked to hand over medical documents to the state’s health commissioner to support requests to work remotely for the next year.
Attorneys and employment experts said it’s not unusual for employers to review medical documentation for people requesting work accommodations. But health department employees interviewed by VPM News said they expected to turn over medical paperwork to the human resources department — not the state health commissioner. Both said Commissioner Colin Greene personally rejected their requests for several days of remote work, unless they provided the documentation.
Each expressed concerns over who would have access to the documents, how the information would be stored and what criteria would be used to assess their claims.
Greene’s requests for medical records appeared to contradict emails VDH’s Office of Human Resources sent to employees telling them not to include personal health information in their telework forms.
In an emailed response to a VPM News inquiry, Greene did not directly respond to claims that he asked for employees' medical records.
“All applications of VDH employees who requested telework as an ADA accommodation are being consistently processed in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Greene wrote.
Younkgin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said the governor “instructed...
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