Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider, fired 1,400 healthcare workers on Monday for failing to comply with the government’s COVID-19 compulsory vaccination, according to The Hill news report.
Northwell’s associate vice president of public relations, Joe Kemp, confirmed to The Hill that 1,400 employees were fired for failing to get vaccinated as mandated by former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D). These employees made up nearly 2% of Northwell’s 76,000 total workforces, all of whom have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Northwell Health is satisfied to report that their workforce, which is the largest in New York State, is fully vaccinated. This enables them to consistently deliver excellent service at all of their facilities without difficulty and continues to be accessible and fully operational, the company reported. Northwell’s vaccine policy mandates both clinical and non-clinical employees to get vaccinated, extending further above the state’s requirement.
Northwell Health, New York’s Largest Health Care Provider (Photo: Northwell Health)
Read Also: 20 Years Cold Case Murder Solved: 37-Year-Old Woman Murdered Her 2-Year-Old Child In California
Fully Vaccinated Workforce Was Part Of Its Mission
The health care company kept its prompt, proactive approach to ensuring full vaccine compliance while sustaining clinical treatment, stating that possessing a fully vaccinated workforce is part of its mission to ensure the health of its patients, personnel, and the communities in which it operates. However, Northwell regrets the loss of any employee in that manner. As they owe maximized forms of service to their patients and the communities they serve, they must implement full vaccination against COVID-19.
Cuomo said in August, shortly before stepping down from office over sexual harassment allegations, that New York will require health care employees to begin their vaccination protocol by Sept. 27. According to Reuters, Northwell announced its own vaccine mandate in August, with the directive affecting both clinical and non-clinical personnel.
The Mandate Increased Vaccination Rates
The vaccine requirement in New York went into full effect last week, and the order was found to have increased vaccination rates among health care employees. According to federal data, as of last week, 87% of medical officers had been vaccinated, and 92% of both hospital and elderly home workers were at least partially vaccinated.
Healthcare workers in New York who are fired because they refuse to get vaccinated are not eligible for unemployment insurance unless they have a doctor-approved petition for a medical exemption. According to the New York Department of Labor, workers in a healthcare facility or nursing home who voluntarily quit or are terminated for refusing an employer-mandated vaccination are ineligible for unemployment benefits since their employers have a rational basis to impose vaccine mandates.
Related Article: Thousands Of Healthcare Workers Are At Risk Of Being Terminated As New York Vaccine Mandate Implemented
