Los Angeles, CA- Thousands of Kaiser Permanente employees were suspended from work on October 5th after a COVID-19 vaccine requirement was released. Over 2,200 healthcare workers have been placed on unpaid administrative leave. 2.2 million healthcare workers are given until December 1st to eit her get vaccinated or risk losing their jobs. The deadline to get vaccinated or get an exemption for facility and healthcare workers was September 30.
Healthcare worker taking a break. Photo by: Mary Paronyan.
James Mack is a property manager for Kaiser who thinks that the vaccine requirement is simply for the best.
“All hospitals, all businesses are doing what they think is best for their employees and for visitors, anything like that.” President Biden mandated that companies with more than 100 employees must have them all vaccinated. “I think it’s a little unfair cause if people don’t want to take the vaccine, they shouldn’t have to. But of course, the vaccine could be safe, but then people are a little suspicious of it” says local resident Justina Zamora.
The clock is ticking, and termination will be faced for Kaiser employees and those from many other companies if a decision isn’t made soon. Shane Marshall is an employee for a company who is experiencing the same consequence in his workforce.
“Yeah it’s wrong,” says Marshall. “I’m not down with it. I’m looking at the same thing at my job. Shot or fired. And we don’t have a date yet.”
Kaiser employs 216,000 people nationwide. In addition to the new covid rules, Kaiser hospitals are also experiencing staffing shortages, and their healthcare workers have voted to strike for a 4% raise.
Thousands of Kaisers Employees deny vaccine. Video by: CBS News
Kaiser employee suspension. Video by: Mary Paronyan
By: Mary Paronyan
With contributions from: James Mack, Justina Zamora, Shane Marshall, Juanita Lujan.
Video: CBS News, Mary Paronyan.
Photo: Mary Paronyan
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