Three former Disney employees are suing the company, saying they were fired after refusing to wear face masks and get vaccinated for COVID-19.
The employees -- Barbara Andreas, Stephen J. Cribb and Adam Pajer -- claim that Disney violated their religious liberty by denying requests to be exempt from the company's vaccinate or terminate COVID-19 policy.
"Disney has brought wonder and magic into the lives and homes of millions of children and adults all around the world," the lawsuit states. "But a shadow has come over Disney. For cast members like plaintiffs who have strongly held religious beliefs, Disney has cast itself as the villain."
According to the lawsuit, Disney had policies in place that "targeted cast members who declined Covid-19 vaccinations," even though the workers expressed that "taking these injections would violate their deeply held convictions."
"They were discriminated against on the basis of their religious beliefs and they indicated to Disney in writing that this was discrimination. It was unlawful conduct against them and as a result of them engaging in protective activity, Disney suspended and then fired all three of them," attorney Rachel Rodriquez told WESH.
The company's vaccination mandate went into effect on July 30, 2021 and required all workers to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30, 2021 as a condition of continued employment. Disney "paused the enforcement" of the mandate in November after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law limiting an employers ability to require vaccinations.
Even though Disney lifted its mandate, the lawsuit alleges that the company imposed "unreasonable and discriminatory" safety protocols on unvaccinated staff that "made clear that Disney irrationally feared plaintiffs as perpetually exposed or infectious with disease and a perpetual danger to other cast and guests."
According to the lawsuit, the "augmented protocols" consisted of "harsh isolation and restrictions, causing serious breathing problems for plaintiffs and making it nearly impossible to find a compliant manner and location in which to eat or drink while on shift." The lawsuit claims the protocols were also not uniformly enforced.
"There are cast members who are also unvaccinated who did not speak up, who have not requested an exemption and they are not subjected to the augmented protocols, so there is discrimination happening here,” Rodriguez told WESH.
The employees claim that they were fired after reporting the company for discrimination to several state agencies as well as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Andreas, who worked for Disney for nearly 21 years, was fired in March of this year; Cribb, employed by Disney for 11 years, was fired in April; and Pajer, a 7-year employee with Disney, was fired in June, according to the lawsuit.
Disney has not commented on the lawsuit, which is seeking monetary compensation and a jury trial.
Related
Related
