Posted on 10/24/2021 8:49:10 AM PDT by SamAdams76
I can retire but I'm still too young to retire. Still 8 years away from FRA on Social Security, still months away from being able to tap into my 401k without penalty. But all my retirement planning has centered around retiring in my mid 60s - not the young age of 59!
So still got 5-10 years in the tank so far as my career is concerned. I'm at the top of my game and at my top earning potential. So I'd hate to give up over a million dollars in future earnings all because of some silly government mandate for a vaccine that I absolutely do not need and do not believe in.
So I'm asking for Freeper help in contructing a letter asking for an exemption to this absolutely insane and unwarranted mandate.
According to the edict put out by my company, all employees must be vaccinated by mid-December or face termination of employment. There are two possible paths for exemption: Medical and Religious.
A medical exemption is out of the question because I have been in perfect health my entire life. Not even a prescription other than a 2-week antibiotic I was given for a sinus infection back in the 1990s. Decades before COVID, I was taking vitamins C, D3 and zinc daily. For the past 20 years, I've been eating almost nothing but natural foods, recently adding raw honeycomb to my diet (to put in my whole-fat yogurt).
Over 30 years at this company and not a single sick day! I have probably the most perfect immune system one could want for. So why would I want to take a vaccine that I don't need and that might compromise that immune system?
I respect the decisions of those who decided to get the vaccines, everybody's situation is different, but I feel that I do not need it for myself and that it could only do me harm.
So my only option here is to seek a religious exemption.
Now I've been a lifelong Christian but I wish I could say I'm a perfect Christian, going to church every Sunday and Bible Study on Wednesday nights. But I skip church way more than I go to it. Mainly because I see the clergy as flawed human beings like myself. For example, during this pandemic, they have had a mask mandate at the church my wife and I belong to and the pastor himself has encouraged his congregation to take the vaccine. So cannot abide by that and cannot ask my pastor to sponsor me in my religious exemption request.
But that is the only avenue I have and I owe the Human Resources a letter stating my desire for a religious exemption. Otherwise, I need to either get the vaccine or face termination of employment less than two months from now. Unless I can obtain an exemption on religious grounds.
I only have one shot at this and so I need to get my ducks in a row. I don't want to be disingenuous. I don't want to cut and paste conspiracy stuff from the Internet. I don't want to pretend to be something I am not. However, I believe there are reasonable objections for even a semi-practicing Christian such as mywelf to make a good case for being exempted from these "vaccinations."
Such as fetus cells being used in either the production or development of these vaccines (my wife and I are ardently pro-Life). But I'm hearing this line of argument could potentially be challenged by HR as many other over the counter medications like cough medicine and Tylenol have fetal cells. Both of which I have taken in the past but certainly not on even a regular basis. In fact, it's been at least a decade since I took either.
So I'm looking for a cogent argument against this vaccine that will pass muster with my HR and Legal Department - on religious grounds. As I'm sure they will need to justify their exemption to the jackboot government.
Now I'm not simply an employee at this company but at the executive level. So I need to come at this from the angle of supporting the company's policies overall while seeking an exemption for myself. A bit of an awkward situation.
I plan to take the tack of not outright refusing to take a vaccine but simply not taking it at this time until certain concerns of mine are resolved. Such as waiting for more time to pass to gauge the long-term effect, waiting for a vaccine that did not have fetal cells in either its development or its production, or until such time my personal medical situation warrants it.
Anyway, I know there are some great minds on Free Republic so would like to pick your brains on this. That said, I also know I'm opening myself up here to inane and insane comments from other Freepers. Which is all fine with me. Just looking for some input and I feel that other Freepers are or will be soon in the same type of situation I find myself in.
Lastly, my company is between a rock and a hard place. They never wanted to mandate their employees but their hand is forced because 40% of our revenues derive from public sector contracts - such as military, government agencies and schools.
My goal here is to get an exemption so that my company can say they are in compliance. Otherwise, it's time to get out of the rat race and spend the rest of my life reading books and taking nature walks - which I guess I'll be okay with - but I'm sure I'll have regrets later.
Pastor Scott Lively has a bona fide internet/in-person church called First Century Bible Church. He has offered officiants and would-be members and associates letters of exemption from the vaccine. Look him up.
Probably is happening in the unskilled labor market. Many of the illegals flowing in are not skilled for the most part.
I really don’t know much about this all works.
Is it companies with more than 100 employees.
A family member escaped the shot where he works. because while the company has a hundred employees his specific department only has about a dozen.
“Having control over my 401k and not having only the crappy choices my company offered was a HUGE benefit. My stock market gains this year so far are about 7X my highest salary at the time I quit.”
Until we have another 2008 collapse. The market over the last 5-8 years is not the norm. Don’t run out of money later in life and if your health chnages you may not be able to even work.
Hobbes: You've got a flamethrower?
Calvin: They lie. We lie".
Best of luck in your endeavor. I know that I do fall short as a good Christian.
Bump for later — maybe tomorrow, as I am traveling today. I am in a somewhat similar situation, but since I am self employed my hand is going to be forced by clients instead of an employer.
I sympathize with your problem but you have to plan for your exemption being denied, because that’s likely. Your real decision is whether to take the shots or not. If you aren’t going to get the shots, you need an employment or business plan for the resulting termination.
Or you can take the shots and hope you don’t have any bad effects.
What about employment at a smaller company that doesn’t have to require the shots? What about working for yourself, or are you able to consult or work remotely rather than get the shots? If a really cool letter would work everyone would have one and there would be no mandate attempts.
“I hung up the spikes at 56.”
Government job?
Take the Hit,
RETIRE!
You’ll Love It!
The only note is that you don’t retire based on income, you retire based on your expenses. If you live below your means (as I am sure you have) you might realize you are closer than you think.
Good luck.
You could probably pay off a nurse for less.
This is a very good point. This is like a negotiation. You don’t have to, nor is it wise to, divulge every thought process and what your decision making process is. You are supposed to obfuscate all of that. You posted so much information in this post and if you were to do that in any letter to the company you’d be given them all the legal cover they would ever need not to mention all of the leverage in the negotiations. You’ve got to be shrewd while negotiating and doing business. Read the parable of the shrewd steward that Jesus told and ask yourself what you think about his actions.
So look for some obscure bible quote...one can find something in there to support any position.
Simply tell them that you are unwilling to disclose your private medical information with them. It is a HIPAA violation for them to require that you share whether or not you have had the vaccine once you say you do not wish to share. The fine is $1,000,000.00.
Where does it say one has to attend church faithfully? If someone has strongly held beliefs that are Christian, I would think this is good enough.
I’m just playing devil’s advocate because I know of people who fit into the above category.
Lots of examples and suggestions at this site.
https://files.catbox.moe/nsdqnu.pdf
You do not have to belong to a church or get a letter from clergy to have a religious objection to vaccines that use fetal cells in their production. Your personal relationship with God tells you that profiting from the murder of babies is immoral and against the laws of God.
Thanks for your "I'm alright, Jack" contribution to this discussion! Very helpful!
Regards,
I believe my son’s company is doing this.
No shots, must be tested once a week and pay an extra $200 per month for health insurance.
Personally, I would do that option as I would not want to play games on a series of shots that are questionable. It’s not right to charge the extra $200 but life is more precious than jabs that can do more harm and in some instances, death.
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