--- title: Workers Are Being Fired for Refusing to Get Flu Shots description: Over the years, hospital workers have been fired for refusing mandatory flu shots. Now three N.J. social ministry workers face termination. authors: - name: Brad Tuttle role: Senior Editor url: https://money.com/author/brad-tuttle/ bio: Brad Tuttle is a former senior editor at Money with over 10 years’ experience covering a vast number of personal finance topics, including careers, cars, travel, budgeting, investing, insurance, credit cards, consumer psychology, real estate, banking, and shopping and deals. education: Columbia University School of Journalism, MS at_money_since: 2014 articles: 366 covers: - Business - Banking - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Economy and Politics - Education - Health and Wellness - Housing - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Loans - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Pets - Professional Services - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes - Technology social: - https://twitter.com/bradrtuttle - https://linkedin.com/in/brad-tuttle-834b225 former_staff: true published: '2015-11-05T20:32:28.000Z' modified: '2015-11-05T20:32:28.000Z' section: Business tags: - fired - health - Health Care - termination word_count: 564 canonical: https://money.com/flu-shot-mandatory-workers-fired/ type: Article source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![person refusing vaccination](https://img.money.com/2015/11/151105_car_refuseshot.jpg) The [CDC's stance](http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/whoshouldvax.htm) on flu vaccinations is quite clear: "All persons aged 6 months and older are recommended for annual vaccination, with rare exception." For some people, however, receiving an annual flu shot is not merely a recommendation, but a requirement in order to keep one's job. A few years ago, many hospitals made flu vaccinations mandatory for all employees. At the time, fewer than [three-quarters of health care workers](http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/mandatory-shots-should-hospitals-force-health-care-workers-to-get-the-flu-vaccine/) got a regular flu shot. Now, faced with the threat of losing one's job, flu vaccination rates are up above 99% at hospitals that require them. And yes, there have been instances in which employees have left hospitals or been fired outright for refusal. For instance, in early 2012 a [hospital in Indiana](http://abcnews.go.com/Health/indiana-hospital-fires-nurses-refusing-flu-shot/story?id=18116967) fired eight workers, including three popular veteran nurses, because they declined to be vaccinated. Over a two-month span at the start of the following winter, at least [15 more hospital workers](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hospitals-crack-down-on-staff-refusing-flu-shots/) in four states were let go for the same reason. Now, a showdown in New Jersey makes clear that the mandatory flu shot trend is spreading beyond hospitals and health care workers. [NJ.com reports](http://www.nj.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2015/11/office_workers_fear_termination_for_refusing_to_ge.html#incart_target2box_default_) that three employees of Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey expect to be fired on Friday because they're refusing flu vaccinations. [Lutheran Social Ministries](http://www.lsmnj.org/who-we-are/) first began as an orphanage in Jersey City, and today focuses on providing aid for the elderly and needy throughout the state. It is not a hospital or health care provider. What's more, the three workers at the heart of the flu shot controversy do not work with the public. Instead, they are office workers who mostly deal with billing issues in the corporate headquarters in the suburbs of Burlington County. Nonetheless, the vaccination is being required of all Lutheran Social Ministries employees. Anyone who refuses could be fired, or be required to wear a surgical mask during all work hours. The three women who declined to get vaccinated have also said no to the masks—which led them to being officially reprimanded this week. "It doesn't make sense because they're requiring the staff to wear a mask if we don't get the vaccine, but we have vendors coming in all the time, and they're not required to wear a mask or show proof of vaccination," Alanda Watson, one of the employees, a 36-year-old mother of four, said. "If families come to visit, they're not required to wear a mask or show proof of vaccination. This is wrong." Obviously, the push to make flu vaccinations mandatory is intended for the health and wellbeing of employees, clients, and, in the case, of hospitals, patients. The reasons people refuse to be vaccinated vary, but include religious beliefs, skepticism about their efficacy, and even the belief that vaccinations are linked to illnesses and diseases. Some surveys indicate that [younger workers and African Americans decline vaccinations](http://www.research.va.gov/news/features/flu_vaccination.cfm) to a much larger degree than other groups. Above all, those refusing to be vaccinated insist that the requirement violates their rights for privacy and personal freedom. "If you want a vaccination, that should be a personal decision," Denise Mercurius, another of the Lutheran Social Ministries employees threatened with losing her job, told [NJ.com](http://www.nj.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2015/11/office_workers_fear_termination_for_refusing_to_ge.html#incart_target2box_default_). "It should not be forced on anyone." All three women said they are going into work on Friday fully expecting to be terminated. 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