Attorney General’s office says complaints about out-of-compliance employers are already rolling in.
Florida’s Attorney General Ashley Moody unveiled online tools on Dec. 3 that workers can use to easily report violations of a new law requiring employers to accept exemptions to vaccine mandates.
The new online documents clearly explain the rules, and the process, for employees wanting to opt-out of getting COVID-19 vaccines, and describe the way violations will be handled. COVID-19 is the illness caused by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus.
By clearly defining the process, and providing links to easy-to-complete forms, Moody has not only given the new law “teeth, but it also provides some legit tools for uninjected employees facing discriminatory working conditions,” said Jeff Childers, a Central Florida attorney.
Already, complaints about employers are rolling in, said Lauren Cassedy, a spokeswoman for Moody.
The guidelines list allowable reasons for exemptions, and explains how an employee can file a complaint against an employer after being fired for not getting a vaccine.
Private companies employing fewer than 100 people can face a fine of up to $10,000 per violation.
Fines for larger companies are up to $50,000 per violation.
Public employers, including educational or governmental institutions, are now prohibited from imposing vaccination mandates in Florida, as well.
Violations for public employers can be reported to the Florida Department of Health through VaxPassFreeFL@FLHealth.gov.
The state considers an employee “fired” even if the person quits after the employer makes working conditions difficult, or intolerable.
For quickest processing, employees can file a complaint online. Complaints may also be submitted to vaxmandate@myfloridalegal.com, or by mail to the Department of Legal Affairs, Private Employer Vaccine Mandate Program. By Tuesday morning, complaints about out-of-compliance employers already were rolling in, said Lauren Cassedy, a spokesoman for the Attorney General’s office.