[ad_1]
Baylor Scott & White Health say all of its staff should be vaccinated against COVID-19 within the next two months.
BSW Health, a statewide healthcare provider with 51 hospitals across the state and nearly 50,000 employees, said in a statement on Wednesday that it required all “employees, providers , volunteers, vendors, students and contractors “be fully vaccinated by October 1.
The company said that due to the high transmissibility of the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus and the overwhelming majority of people with severe illness being among the unvaccinated, now is a great time to move forward. ‘ensure that everyone who works for them is protected.
BSW Health’s full statement is below:
With the rapid increase in the number of COVID-19 cases due to the highly contagious Delta variant and the start of the flu season quickly approaching, we believe the time has come to take the next step. to achieve a fully immunized workforce. By October 1, 2021, all Baylor Scott & White Health employees, contractors, volunteers, suppliers, students and contractors must receive both Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses, or the Johnson & Johnson single dose COVID- 19 vaccine, except exemption. The Delta variant is the most contagious and dangerous strain we’ve seen to date, leading to an exponential increase in severe illness and hospitalization rates. The overwhelming majority of these cases are among the unvaccinated. We are committed to making the communities we serve healthier. Whether you are a patient, family member or employee, you can rest assured that we have taken every step to protect you.
Mike Maslanka, associate professor of law at UNT Dallas College of Law, said religious and medical reasons are exemptions employers must consider under the law if they require vaccinations. A spokesperson for BWS Health confirmed on Wednesday that religious and medical reasons are examples of reasons a worker may be exempt from the policy.
“An employee can make taking a vaccine a condition of employment. You are an employee at will. If an employer wants you to come at 9 am instead of 8 am, they can tell you. a condition of your job. Getting the vaccine is no different, “Maslanka said.” I think with the severity of this delta variant or other variants that are coming out, I think more and more employers private people will require vaccinations. “
Earlier this summer, more than 150 employees of the Houston Methodist Hospital System who refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 were fired or resigned after a judge dismissed a lawsuit against employees over their needs in vaccines.
In a scathing decision, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes ruled that main complainant Jennifer Bridges’ claim that vaccines are “experimental and unsafe” was false and dismissed the lawsuit adding that if employees didn’t like it. not the requirement, they could go and work elsewhere. .
“Bridges can freely choose to accept or refuse a COVID-19 vaccine; however, if she refuses, she will simply have to work elsewhere. If a worker declines an assignment, changes offices, an earlier start time, or some other directive, they may be properly terminated. Every job includes limits on the behavior of the worker in exchange for compensation. It’s all part of the deal, ”concluded Hughes.
Houston Methodist has demanded that employees complete their vaccinations by June 7. The next day, 178 employees were suspended for two weeks without pay for not complying.
BSW Health has not said what might happen to employees who miss the October 1 deadline.
[ad_2]
Source link