400 Workers Quit Large Michigan Hospital System Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Approximately 400 healthcare workers astatine 1 of Michigan’s largest infirmary systems person resigned implicit the system’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

The astir 33,000 workers astatine Henry Ford Health System, which includes 5 hospitals, were required to get a COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 10. Those who didn’t person an exemption oregon comply with the mandate were fixed until Oct. 1 to comply oregon look repercussions.

Some 93 percent of workers got astatine slightest 1 changeable of a vaccine and different 6 percent received a spiritual oregon aesculapian exemption, Bob Riney, president of healthcare operations and main operating serviceman for the system, told reporters successful a briefing Wednesday. Less than 1 percent, oregon astir 400 workers, quit.

“No 1 has been fired, and nary 1 volition beryllium fired. Anyone who leaves due to the fact that of the vaccine request is being classified arsenic a voluntary resignation,” Riney said.

Workers who discontinue are invited to re-apply for a occupation should they get vaccinated, helium added.

At slightest 1 of the 64 Henry Ford employees who past period sued over the system’s mandate, alleging it violated their law rights, was denied a spiritual exemption and was terminated, Kyle Von Allmen, a lawyer representing the group, told The Epoch Times via email.

“Despite the wellness strategy assertion that these employees are ‘quitting’, they were terminated,” helium wrote.

The strategy rejected astir 250 spiritual exemption requests and a fistful of aesculapian exemption requests, officials said. They determined the requests did not conscionable the criteria they acceptable for granting specified exemptions by looking astatine the workers’ “past behavior” and beliefs, according to Riney.

COVID-19 vaccine mandates person been imposed astatine healthcare systems crossed the federation successful caller months and President Joe Biden’s medication is putting unneurotic a mandate for immoderate backstage concern with 100 oregon much employees that volition halfway connected forcing workers who don’t get a vaccine to taxable to play COVID-19 testing.

The mandates are starring to staffing shortages astatine galore facilities. The shortages led to 2 ample Michigan systems, including Henry Ford, cutting beds past month.

Officials astatine the strategy said they’ve started hiring caller workers to offset the losses. They’re recruiting internationally.

“All things considered, we’re losing a precise tiny conception of our workforce,” Riney said.

Henry Ford’s mandate does not incorporate a carve-out for workers who are capable to beryllium they contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Several wellness systems successful Michigan bash fto workers who tin beryllium they person earthy immunity opt retired from mandates, including Spectrum Health.