A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order against a non-profit laboratory in Tennessee and placing workers on unpaid leave that received exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine.
The workers claimed that the unpaid leave was indefinite but the employer said the leave was 60 days with no loss of benefits and a chance for reevaluation.
The judge plans to return to make a final decision Oct. 29, and made it clear that just because a temporary restraining order was filed does not mean it will be permanently.
The goal was to preserve the functioning of the lab without causing harm from loss of employment.
Employees say they weren’t given an opportunity to take routine tests or remote work, but the non-profit said it’s been proven testing isn’t an adequate way to stop transmission.
One employee met with the panel to discuss their exemption before receiving the results of their COVID-19 test, only to find out the results were positive and they had exposed the entire panel.
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