Under the county's mandate for workers in 'high-risk settings,' those who are granted a medical or religious exemption aren't allowed to stay in their position
Santa Clara County Executive Jeff Smith refuses to budge on the booster mandate for workers in “high-risk settings,” like hospitals and jails.
It’s similar to the state’s mandate, except for one major difference: those who are granted a medical or religious exemption aren’t allowed to stay in their position. Instead, they’re to move to a “lower-risk” job setting by Feb. 1.
After hospitals in the region complained that the requirement would amplify the current staffing crisis, the county health department created a waiver option, where organizations could get approved to allow unvaccinated employees to stay in their high-risk job settings. Private entities like Stanford Health Care have already applied for the waiver, but workers under county leadership have to jump through hoops.
That’s why six unions sent a joint letter this week to Smith and the Board of Supervisors, arguing that the mandate will decimate an already strained workforce and requesting that county leaders allow those with approved vaccine exemptions to stay in their positions.
“What was initially a county-wide health order is becoming a county-employer policy alone, but one exempted from real discussion with employees and unions,” the union letter read. Its signatories include the Registered Nurses Professional Association, County Employees...
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