Disney World has reportedly put its COVID-19 vaccination mandate on hold for its employees in Florida after the governor and the State Legislature made it illegal for employers to require all staff to be inoculated. As per this new policy, the multinational entertainment corporation could have faced some heavy fines.

Earlier, Disney World had signed a deal with employees that require theme park staff to be fully vaccinated to keep their jobs, with the company even defending the rule through a statement. Over 90% of Florida active cast members have been vaccinated, Disney claimed, before halting the vaccination mandate.

For those unaware, the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature issued the bill restricting COVID-19 vaccine mandates, with Governor Ron DeSantis signing it into law recently. It appears to be an effort to protect workers who could potentially lose their jobs for not complying with the employers' vaccine reforms.

Governor DeSantis has been leading the political fight to stop mask and vaccine mandates. He claims that no employee should lose their job over COVID mandates, especially when the state holds a responsibility to protect the livelihoods of the Florida population.

It is also worth mentioning here that the Biden administration requires all employees in large corporations as well as members of the federal workforce to be vaccinated. However, this effort has met quite the resistance across the United States, with Florida being among the few states challenging the federal mandates.

The latest Florida law now prohibits any employer from enforcing strict vaccine mandates and is required to allow employees to choose exemptions. However, unvaccinated workers will be required to go through periodic testing or use protective equipment, that too at the employer’s cost.

Smaller businesses could be penalized around USD 10,000 a day for every employee violation, while large corporations could face up to USD 50,000 per employee violation. Even the school districts and government entities are restricted from the vaccine mandates.

Source Credits –

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/20/health/disney-vaccine-mandate-florida-ban.html