Thousands of NY Health Care Workers Placed on Unpaid Leave, Face Firing Over Vaccine Mandate

Epoch Times ^ | 09/28/2021 | Petr Svab

[SeekAndFind]

Thousands of nurses and other health care workers across New York state have lost their jobs or been suspended because they are refusing to comply with the state’s mandate to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Going into effect on Sept. 27, the mandate has led to staffing shortages, although some of the large hospital systems in the state have said they are maintaining continuity of services.

As of Sept. 27, 92 percent of hospital employees in the state have received at least one dose of the vaccine, based on “preliminary self-reported data,” the office of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. That would leave tens of thousands of hospital workers slated for termination, though some health care providers indicated that they are giving their employees some time to still get vaccinated and return to work.

The mandate has already caused some disruptions upstate.

Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester announced a two-week pause to some elective procedures.

“Patients can expect longer wait times for routine appointments, some employees will be asked to take on new responsibilities, and temporary bed closures are possible,” the University of Rochester, which runs the hospital, said in a statement, noting emergency services and critical care will continue.

Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo suspended elective inpatient surgeries and has stopped accepting intensive-care patients from other hospitals as it prepares to fire hundreds of unvaccinated employees, spokesman Peter Cutler told Reuters.

Northwell Health, the state’s largest health care employer with two dozen hospitals and 74,000 staff, indicated that not all unvaccinated employees were given the immediate boot.

The company “notified all unvaccinated team members that they are no longer in compliance with New York State’s mandate,” spokesman Jason Molinet told The Epoch Times.

[BenLurkin]

“When people are able to make choices without government interference for themselves in terms of their well being and the well-being of their family in consultation with whomever they may choose, we are a stronger society.”
- U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris

[Betty Jane]

You would think that one hospital would ignore the mandate and sue on behalf of their employees and patients. But they all just rolled over. Bunch of cowards.

[grey_whiskers]

They are Communists.

They are not shamed by having their lies pointed out to their face.

[CatOwner]

Ah, suspensions. Trying to get the workers to sweat it out in the hopes they’ll take the jab.

[Jane Long]

Welcome to socialized healthcare, NY.

Compliments of the Biden regime and the evil Gov.

[Jane Long]

Can you believe this is happening, in America?

Take a hazardous shot, or....you’re fired!

What a choice.....your livelihood....or, your life/health/future.

[usconservative]

What's the over/under on how long these "suspensions" will last?

I'm betting the hospitals and healthcare systems cave and bring back those on suspension, just not sure if that'll happen within 10 days or longer.

As for me, when my employer acts to fire 60% of IT that's unvaccinated where I work, I'll walk out with them in solidarity, despite my being vaccinated.

This entire forced vaccination crap is complete bullshit.

[Sequoyah101]

One says hundreds and the other says thousands. Big spread but I support them no matter how many they are.

The doc told me today the vaccine can reduce the severity of sickness but does not stop it. Yeah, we sort of know that now. Perhaps reducing the degree off illness and cost is the only benefit for the greater good. Still not enough to catch my eye.

[CJ Wolf]

“As for me, when my employer acts to fire 60% of IT that’s unvaccinated where I work, I’ll walk out with them in solidarity, despite my being vaccinated.”

More should too. Thank you.

[Yogafist]

“Can you believe this is happening, in America?”

That is the most profound comment I have seen in a while. This is America, but we are being told we will lose our livelihood unless we bow before our rulers. America has become a totalitarian country.

[Chad C. Mulligan]

When people in a position to know the risks of these “vaccines”, (which they’re not), are willing to give up their livelihoods to be safe, it tells us something.

[.30Carbine]

I keep praying for the single mom health care workers with children to take care of. Their burden must be incredibly difficult to bear. It’s one thing to think of starving oneself, but not one’s children.

[hardspunned]

I used to work for PepsiCo. They are the globalist trailblazers, woke nearly to today’s standards 10 years ago. I was talking to a current employee who told me they can barely function at staff levels now. PepsiCo has no vaxx requirement. Trust me, if they could afford it they’d be on board. The regime might have finally jumped the shark on the scamdemic with the mandate.

[allendale]

The danger of the unvaccinated is to themselves. Using coercion to regulate personal behavior will not end with COVID-19. The real riots will come when one day the same coercive measures are used against the politically privlidged.

[Falconspeed]

“your livelihood....or, your life/health/future.”

Vaccines are useless and harmful. Useless since vaccinated have 60% of new covid cases. Harmful, because vaccines kill, injure and damage people every day. Forcing people to take an experimental shot is unreasonable, but fear of covid makes some people do unreasonable things, like wear a mask, avoid crowds and talk about covid 24/7.

[Nateman]

This Mandate is going to kill many more people due to the self inflicted labor shortage than it could ever save from the China Virus.

[El Cid]

This is America, but we are being told we will lose our livelihood unless we bow before our rulers. America has become a totalitarian country.

We are told to act against our conscience.

Although the context was with respect to the Word of God, Martin Luther's speech to the Diet of Worms some 500+ years ago, is still relevant today:

"...I cannot and I will not retract anything, because it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience".

To try to force someone to act against their conscience is evil. And we are apparently being 'led' by evil despots.

[Jane Long]

Fear of losing their job, can do that (make them fearful), too :-(

[Jane Long]

Yes....agree.

I said ‘socialist’, to hubby, earlier.

For all of the years we’ve wondered how it could ever happen, here....well, we’re witnessing it happen.

No opposition....no opposition party.

We’re being taxed without representation. Our forefathers are spinning.