Disney World Suspends Its Vaccine Mandate For Employees

Disney World announced last week that it will suspend the vaccine mandate is set for its employees. This prompted the White House to turn its ire on Florida governor Ron DeSantis for continuing to act as a thorn to President Joe Biden’s side. 

RELATED: Disney Parks Chairman Urges California Government Officials to “Treat Theme Parks Like You Would Other Sectors and Help Us Reopen”

White House Calls Out Governor DeSantis

Last Monday, the Biden White House called out the Republican governor of Florida. Press Secretary Jen Psaki accused the state’s leadership of not helping fight the pandemic.

She said Disney World’s decision to suspend the vaccine mandate is an example. “I think the Disney piece is important to differentiate because, as they’re based in Florida,” she said.

She then said that DeSantis is blocking efforts in fighting the pandemic. “The governor there has consistently taken steps to take steps backward, as it relates to fighting the pandemic, not forward,” she added.

Psaki referred to a recent survey where 60% of business leaders want to move forward on their own on vaccine requirements.

Psaki then noted the majority wanted vaccine mandates. “60 percent of business leaders wanted to move forward on their own with vaccine requirements.

We’ve seen them implemented, at a lot of companies, they’ve been effective,” she added. “Overall it gives a lot of businesses certainty about their workforce, makes people feel more confident in coming back to work.”

DeSantis Stood Up To Biden By Signing Four Bills Opposing Vaccine Mandates

Last week, DeSantis signed four bills opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The governor wanted the removal of federal vaccine mandates, finding them unnecessary.

“We hear so much about all these things: mandates, restrictions, tearing people down. Today, we lift people up. We provide protections for people.

No nurse, no firefighter, no police officer, no trucker, no anybody should lose their job because of these COVID jabs,” Santis said. 

One of the bills, HB-1B proposes that instead of a unilateral order, Florida workers can seek exemptions to vaccine mandates. They can either show medical or religious exemptions.

They can also show immunity to COVID-19 due to a previous infection. The bill also allows employees willing to undergo regular testing or wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to not get the vaccines. 

HB 1B could also see small employers fined up to $10,000 per violation for not properly following the law. Meanwhile, larger businesses can get fines of up to $50,000.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Disney World said that they’re suspending the vaccine mandate even as 90% of workers already completed their vaccines.

“We believe that our approach to mandatory vaccines has been the right one,” a statement read. Disney World assured the public that they continue “to focus on the safety and well-being of our Cast Members and Guests”.

The company also said that at this point, 90% of Florida-based cast members are reported to be fully vaccinated. 

Florida Workers Relieved Over Suspension of Vaccine Mandate

DeSantis’ spokesperson Christina Pushaw tweeted the victory of the federal order, “Nobody should lose his or her job over these mandates, and we thank legislative leaders for their part in delivering on the promise to Keep Florida Free.

Disney is a major employer in Florida and we are proud that the happiest place on Earth is here in our state. We hope Disney and any other company that has suspended or terminated workers due to vaccine mandates will consider re-hiring them.” she tweeted.  

Meanwhile, one Disney World cast member celebrated the DeSantis’ bills. “I feel relieved. I feel grateful. … I’m more worried about everybody else than myself and I’m happy to see that all the people that were anxious, especially around the holidays, got that pressure off their back, that monkey off their back, and they’re going to be able to keep their jobs.’’

Watch the WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando video reporting that Disney pauses vaccine mandate punishments:

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