tl;dr - this is the first of multiple posts describing my experience with a vaccine mandate at work. My intent is to provide strength and encouragement to others who are in similar situations, and to get feedback on my thoughts.
I started working for a National Healthcare Provider on Aug 2nd of this year. Prior to accepting the position, I emailed my recruiter and my hiring manager asking about the COVID-19 vaccination. I explained that I was not comfortable receiving the experimental gene therapy, and that if it was required for employment I would not accept the job. At that time, the company was recommending but not requiring the vaccine. Work commenced.
Fast forward to Aug 9th, and all employees were notified by email that the COVID-19 vaccine was now required by Nov 12th. I told my boss that I wasn't comfortable with the policy and that I would not be getting the vaccine regardless of company mandates. He politely asked to discuss my reasoning, and we had a civil (although not productive) conversation. He strikes me as a non-confrontational (ie, somewhat spineless) man, and appears to be very interested in avoiding any uncomfortable interactions with his superiors.
My manager isn't an asshole, he's just weak willed. So I decided that I would do my best to limit his involvement in this situation. He didn't make the rule, and he isn't trying to enforce it. It's MY job to advocate for myself, so as long as he stays relatively neutral I will leave him out of the battle. The topic hasn't come up since our initial meeting, but I did ask him to forward any emails he received regarding the policy.
In the interest of keeping people off my back, I scheduled an appointment with the vaccination clinic to get jabbed. My appointment is at 840 am on Friday, Nov. 12th.
My coworkers are aware of my views, and they're like "cool, man, you do you." It's a small office, just 3 employees and the manager. I've already planted the seeds of group resistance to further corporate bullshit. The office was severely understaffed prior to my arrival, and we are very understaffed now. My outspoken opinion is "what if we say no? They can't get rid of all of us. The logistics of trying to cover our workload by sending people in from the main office (150 miles away) would cripple them. They have no leverage." That was met with some raised eyebrows and mumbles of "huh, never thought of it like that."
The way I see it, there are a number of ways this can play out:
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Nov 12th comes and goes, and I "miss" my appointment. I keep showing up to work until I get fired. File for unemployment. Look for a new job.
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Company reverses the policy. I keep working.
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Company tries to inflict "group punishments" in order to get my coworkers to pressure me.
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Lots of in between options, would love to hear about the experiences of others.
That's all for now, I'll post updates (unless I get downvoted to hell, in which case I'll just keep being awesome over here by myself).
WE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER!
This is a great resource post. I have already saved it, but others may not have seen it, so thank you!
Appreciate you sharing your experiences and especially thankful for your intent statement, I eat this stuff up like candy! Empowering each other is SO important-thank you!
Hold the line...lead your team to victory and slay the cv monster.
I applaud you! Good strategy 👏
Play the game this way. Tell the boss to point you to a FDA approved covid vaccine for you to take. There is not one vaccine on the marketplace that has been approved by the FDA. Every jab is still under the EUA per the FDA and CDC.
OP, you have already pre-set the issue by notifying them in advance prior to taking the job, no vaxx mandate. They accepted that position, despite perhaps them saying, there is no mandate at this time.
So, if the boot you, it is wrongful termination. Prepare in advance for that.
I am not sure if that is already implemented but, I've already seen some issues with unemployment benefits because the issuing organization had determined that termination could be considered voluntary.
On a different but related note, behind the termination also may be brought up the argument of discorded relations.
OP - I am suffering the same - My company is offering Religious and Medical Exemption Requests - I will be going that route. AS a Back up - I will leave a link from GA here. THE Long and SHORT of it is : The FDA Approved the "Comirnaty" Jab - which allowed all the JAB NAZI companies to Mandate. BUT it is NOT even available in the States right now (and may never be) So..the only other Jab the company has is "BioNTech", which is still only "EUA" Approved, and YOU can refuse the JAB because of this!
https://greatawakening.win/p/12kFUWmDtm/a-major-law-firm-confirms-that-t/
I vote for #2. Hopefully Trump will be back by then.
I'm in a similar boat in WA state. Our dear leader Gov Inslee is forcing all state workers to be fully vaccinated by October 18. That means first jab on the 6th of this month (next week is the point of no return). He has included all K12 staff as well. He has eliminated the philosophical exemptions, and Yesterday he just proclaimed that state patrol is no longer allowed to try to use religious exemption as well. I'm sure he will soon remove the religious exemption for the rest of us. It seems like the rest of the country is ignoring those of us stranded in the Soviet of Washington who are dedicated deplorables. I believe WA has been the testing ground for the communist infiltration for many years and that since mail in voting was established decades ago, we have not had conservative representation in government. I'm a 30 year veteran in teaching and I'm devastated. I love my job. I'm too young to get my retirement. I'm frightened.
Look at this Link - All JABS are STILL only "EUA" which you can refuse. This has all been a Ruse of the FDA https://greatawakening.win/p/12kFUWmDtm/a-major-law-firm-confirms-that-t/