Akron Children’s employees who refused vaccine on unpaid leave
Akron Children's Hospital is placing an undisclosed number of employees who haven't received a required COVID-19 vaccine on unpaid leave.
The hospital had a deadline of Tuesday for its employees to receive at least two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson or face termination unless they have an approved exemption. The policy originally had a Jan. 4 deadline, but was delayed a week.
The hospital last fall required employees to be vaccinated or be tested weekly. But Children's changed its policy after the federal mandate, which would have required all health care workers to be vaccinated or face fines from the government, was announced. That mandate is currently stalled in federal court.
On Tuesday, Lisa Aurilio, chief operating officer at Akron Children's, released a statement confirming employees who had not met the hospital's requirement would be placed on unpaid leave.
“While the Jan. 11 deadline for our COVID-19 vaccination requirement is firm, we are working with those employees who have expressed in good faith their commitment to be fully vaccinated,” Aurilio said.
“Those employees for which we have no record of vaccination or exemption were notified on Friday that they will be placed on unpaid leave,” she said in her statement.
“This will not happen without a oneon-one meeting between an employee and manager.
“We value the contribution of each and every employee, but we must uphold our founding promise to provide the best care possible for every child in our service area. A vaccinated workforce is the best way to protect our patients, especially those who are immuno-compromised, chronically ill or not yet eligible to be vaccinated.”
It is unclear how many employees were notified on Friday that they would be placed on unpaid leave or how soon that would happen.
Employees could get their first vaccination up until Tuesday, according to the policy.
Beth Snyder, who has been an Akron Children's registered nurse for 81⁄2 years and who was a licensed practical nurse before that, finished what is likely her last shift at the hospital Tuesday afternoon.
She has mostly worked in the endocrine department with children with diabetes, but last year, transferred to the allergy and immunology department.
Snyder, 45, said taking the COVID-19 vaccine is not for her.
“I just feel that it's not the right choice for me. I have prayed about this very deeply,” she said.
Snyder said she knows of many of her co-workers – from department secretaries to nurses and others who care for patients – are in the same boat.
She was notified Friday that she was going on 30 days' unpaid leave beginning Tuesday and she would need to pay her portion of her health care benefits during that time. She is unclear if she can use accrued paid time off for the 30 days. She will be terminated after 30 days if she does not get the vaccine, she said.
“I love working with Akron Children's, and I'm saddened greatly that this is where we're at,” she said.
Snyder said she is unsure what she will do next, but she will not be getting the vaccine.
“I said goodbye to some great coworkers today,” she said.
“Working during a pandemic is very challenging, and I will say that I wish that I could continue to walk with them,” she said.
Some employees and their supporters have held protests against the Akron Children's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, including a protest Monday night.
Organizers accused the hospital of denying employees' requests for religious or medical exemptions.
Akron Children's Hospital spokeswoman Holly Pupino said the hospital had no further information or comments beyond Aurilio's statement.
In December, the hospital said about 80% of employees are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Pupino declined to say the current vaccination rate of employees. Aurilio also issued a statement Monday before the protest saying hospital officials “recognize the right of our employees and others to peacefully express their views and have been listening to their concerns.”
“We know we have some employees with differences of opinion about the COVID-19 vaccine,” she said. “Requiring employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 has been a difficult decision for Akron Children's Hospital but we are following the science that vaccines work in greatly reducing the risk of serious illness and hospitalization and of spreading the virus to others. Millions of Americans have received the vaccines. They are safe and effective. This policy is also consistent with those to have employees be vaccinated for the flu annually and other diseases upon being hired. These have been in place for many years.”
Other hospital policies
Summa Health was the only Akronarea hospital last fall to require its employees and contractors be fully vaccinated or face termination. The deadline was Oct. 31 and Summa allowed its employees to continue working while going through the disciplinary process.
Seven Summa employees were fired in late November or early December for refusing the vaccine, Summa CEO Dr. Cliff Deveny said at the time.
That number is significantly lower than the 180, or 2%, of the health system's 8,000-person workforce who were not in compliance in early November.
About 7%, or 566 employees, received a medical or religious exemption.
At Cleveland Clinic, which operates Akron General, Mercy Hospital in Canton and Medina Hospital, employees are not required, but still encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19. On Tuesday, a Cleveland Clinic spokesman said systemwide, the number of 85% of employees vaccinated is still accurate.
Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, which is not currently mandating employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine, has 87% of its staff vaccinated against COVID-19, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
Beacon Journal staff reporter Betty Lin-fisher can be reached at 330-9963724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherabj on Twitter or www.facebook.com/bettylinfisherabj.