Burlington Township Employees Who Refused Flu Shots Fear They'll Lose Their Jobs
UPDATE (November 6, 2015) -- Friday morning, three employees who refused to get flu shots or wear surgical masks had a meeting with management at the Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey in Burlington Township.
CBS 3 is told they have been suspended without pay until Monday, Nov. 16 so they have time to reconsider. After that, the employees expect to lose their jobs.
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BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Three employees at the Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey say they've been disciplined and may lose their jobs for refusing to comply with a mandated flu shot policy.
Alanda Watson, Denise Mercurius and a third co-worker were sent home from work this week for refusing to get the flu shot or as an alternative wearing a surgical mask to work all day.
They say getting a flu shot violates their beliefs and wearing a mask is both embarrassing and cumbersome for their job duties.
"I'm not a robot, if I have a question and if I have a concern I'm going to voice it, especially when it comes to my body," says Watson.
Lutheran Social Ministries provides a variety of social services including home healthcare and adoption but the 3 employees in non-compliance says they have office jobs that don't include direct contact with clients.
CEO Colleen Frankenfield would not discuss the employees being disciplined but said the flu shot mandate is aimed at protecting the health of all 630 employees statewide and everyone who enters their facilities.
"Most of the people that we serve are indigent or they're very compromised medically like our senior citizens," says Frankenfield.
The New Jersey Department of Health encourages but does not require healthcare workers to get flu shots.
The employees have a meeting on Friday morning where they expect to be fired if they don't agree to get a shot or wear a mask.
They say they are consulting a lawyer and are unsure if they are losing pay for not being at work.
