TORONTO – The University Health Network has confirmed that employees who decide not to get vaccinated in late October will be laid off.
UHN, between Toronto General, Toronto Western and Princess Margaret Hospitals, confirmed the new policy in a statement released Friday evening.
In the statement, the hospital network said it has “connected” with the more than 900 employees who have not provided their vaccination status or have indicated they are not vaccinated.
“We indicated that they had to do the first shot before September 8, which allows for a second shot before October 8,” the statement says.
“We will work with anyone in the group to answer questions, provide additional information about the vaccine, and hope that, as people who work in health care and engage with their patients and colleagues, they will comply with the policy.”
After Oct. 8, anyone who has not yet been vaccinated will be on leave for two weeks, officials said.
“If after two weeks it is still his decision not to be vaccinated after that date, he will end his employment at UHN.”
Prior to this new directive, UHN staff who were not vaccinated or who did not offer or provide their vaccination status had to undergo periodic COVID-19 testing before arriving at the workplace. .
Kevin Smith, director of the health network, told CTV News Toronto earlier this week that the policy led to an increase in vaccinations. The percentage of vaccinated employees rose from 85% at the end of July to the current rate of 92%.
Speaking to CP24 on Friday evening, Toronto labor lawyer Daniel Lublin said the UHN measure should be “applauded” to make it clear what will happen if an employee rejects a COVID-19 vaccine.
“The problem with the mandatory vaccination policies we’ve seen from the big banks, the federal government and others is that they’ve been sufficiently or completely ambiguous as to what will happen if they don’t get vaccinated. And that won’t really cause any behavior change, ”Lublin said.
While employers cannot force employees to get vaccinated, Lublin said they can create rules and protocols to improve the workplace, which, if not followed, could lead to layoffs.
“Those people who refuse to abide by these rules can be terminated, but have the right to separation,” he said.
The UHN’s policy change comes just days after Ontario’s chief medical officer released new guidelines for vaccinations in the health and education sectors.
From September 7, all employees, staff, contractors, students, volunteers and ambulance services in hospitals and home and community care services will be required to show vaccination evidence or medical reasons for not being vaccinated.
All persons who do not provide complete vaccination tests with both doses should have regular COVID-19 antigen testing. They will also need to complete an educational session.