COVID VACCINATION MANDATE (UPDATE)
JNESO has met with Virtua over the impact of their covid vaccination mandate. We have issued our position (see below) on policy requirements and demanded that they reconsider their stance on this mandate:
  • JNESO does not agree that the vaccination should be mandated as a condition of employment. It is the choice of the individual and therefore, Virtua should follow the same guidelines as the flu policy where, if employees are unvaccinated they are required to wear a mask when providing direct patient care or when indoors at a Virtua facility.

  • We believe that all members should be notified of exemptions and deadlines, including those on leave and that Virtua should take the individual's status into consideration when enforcing those deadlines. If a person is on medical leave past the deadline to receive the vaccination, they should be granted time to get it.

  • JNESO proposes that accommodation requests be responded to in writing back to the member within 72 hours of request submission.

  • Should the member decided to have Virtua administer the vaccination, and should they need time off for a reaction, the member should not have to use PTO time but should be paid by the employer for time to recover

  • JNESO does not agree with disciplinary action to include a written warning and removal from the schedule. The foregoing action taken by the employer would be deemed too excessive

  • JNESO does not agree that members who refuse the vaccination, without medical or religious accommodation, would be considered a voluntary resignation.
As such, the recent United States Fifth Circuit court decision from a Texas judge maintained that Houston Methodist Hospital has the right to mandate covid vaccinations amongst its employees, however, JNESO’s position remains firm. We will keep you updated as to your employer's response.
For questions or concerns,
please contact a Local Officer or your Labor Reps:
Ellena Osborne (800) 292-0542 x119 eosborne@jneso.org
Ignazio Amodio (800) 292-0542 x116 iamodio@jneso.org
Yolanda Brewer (800) 292-0542 x 124 ybrewer@jneso.org