Manatt Employment and Labor Partner Deborah Kelly spoke with SHRM about the dangers and legal implications of employees who lie about being vaccinated against COVID-19 to their employers. Kelly explained that getting away with that lie could reassure that employee and other employees so much so that they become lax in complying with workplace safety procedures and noted the potential liability to the employer could be greater if the lying worker becomes infected with COVID-19 and infects others. “The employer could be charged with negligence for not being sufficiently aggressive in ensuring that employees provide sufficient proof of an actual vaccination, and thereby failed to provide a safe workplace as required under applicable federal and state law,” Kelly added.