More than 150 terminated Houston Methodist Hospital employees requested rehire after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued the Executive Order GA-40. The order reportedly prohibits institutions from implementing vaccination mandates to their employees.
According to Houston Public Media, staff members of the hospital were either initially terminated or resigned in June. The employees did it after the management allegedly required all of them to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Thus, Atty. Jared Woodfill used the said document to support his letter against the hospital. Woodfill stands on behalf of the former employees of Houston Methodist. They were reportedly requesting reinstatement of their positions in the hospital.
As per the report, the attorney is handling around 200 health care workers "in multiple lawsuits against Methodist."
Woodfill reportedly said in the letter that "Texans fear losing their livelihoods because they object to receiving a COVID-19 vaccination."
The letter also cited a few reasons why the employees do not want to be vaccinated. Such reasons include religious beliefs, medical reasons, etc.
Executive Order in Support to Woodfill's Letter
According to the official website of the government of Texas, the approved order was issued on Monday, Oct. 11. The document indicates "prohibiting vaccine mandates, subject to legislative action."
Based on the website, "COVID-19 vaccines are strongly encouraged" for eligible individuals. However, the decision "must always be voluntary for Texans."
Also, the order mentioned that "no entity in Texas can compel receipt of COVID-19 vaccine." Thus, it is reportedly prohibited to mandate workers who object to receiving the vaccines.
The GA-40 was also included in Woodfill's letter to Atty. Dan Patton of Scott Patton PC.
Thus, Gov. Abbot's issuance reportedly acts as an "appreciation" to healthcare workers. They are those who provided "sacrifice" to tend to their work, as per the report.
Additionally, the letter emphasized the hard work of the Methodist employees. Despite what Woodfill called, "cowardly shielded themselves from COVID-19 positive patients."
He mentioned in the letter that many acquired the virus due to work-related instances. Hence, workers requested to return to their respective positions, based on the report.
Hospital's COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
Houston Public Media said that the hospital was the first in the U.S. to impose a vaccine mandate. The decision reportedly brought a legal battle between the hospital and its employees.
Based on the hospital website, the institution's policy was based on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The office reportedly allows institutions to implement vaccine mandates for employees.
As per the website, it stated that "employers can mandate employees get the vaccine."
The hospital also justified that this policy imposes safety on all its staff members. Thus, "unvaccinated employees pose a direct threat to others in the workplace."
Based on the report, the hospital did not only consider the mandate as a legal action but as a "moral right." This was in line with the hospital's assurance in "keeping all patients safe" on the institution's premises.
Physicians immediately followed the mandate after issuance, as per the report. This was "to set as an example" to all other Houston Methodist staff members.
Moreover, the hospital policy also reportedly triggered other institutions to follow the same mandate for their employees.
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