Seven Former Walt Disney World Employees Sue Over Vaccine Mandate Firings
Disney finds itself in a legal battle over its 2021 COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
Cheron Hayes and Seth Schmidt are among seven former Walt Disney World employees who claim they were fired from the company for not getting the vaccine.
On July 30, 2021, the head of human resources for the Walt Disney Company sent out a letter informing all employees that the company would be requiring COVID-19 vaccines. Employees were given 60 days to comply.
At the time, the company’s chief human resources officer, Paul Richardson, stated, “We believe it is important to put the safety of our employees and cast members at the forefront”.
Photo: Disney
10 days after the announcement, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into a law a ban on vaccine mandates.
Disney’s subsequently sent an email saying “We must pause the enforcement of our policy for Florida-based cast members and employees”. Despite this, Hayes and Schmidt both claim they were fired for not getting the vaccine.
Florida Govenor Ron DeSantis signed a law banning vaccine mandates.
Schmidt, who worked at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and had been with the company for 11 years, also had his religious exemption denied.
“My manager said it’s not because of the job. ‘You do a great job. But because of all our policies, we have to let you go.’ It just felt disheartening,” Schmidt said.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Image Credit: Disney
Hayes on the other hand, thought she would be retiring with the company prior to her dismissal.
“I thought I’d found the company I would retire from, and, so for them to hit me with this, just for a shot, and for them to literally say, ‘No shot, no job,’ was, you know, it was very humiliating,” Hayes said.
The Law Will be Tested
The plaintiffs attorney, Rachel Roriguez, says that the law is clearly on their side.
Photo: also Disney
“It can’t be overstated that the problems here have to do with discrimination under long-standing law,” she said. “They violated the privacy rights of all of their cast members in Florida.”
A Disney World spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit. The case will surely be followed closely.
Be sure to check back with MickeyBlog, as we will update you on any happenings with this lawsuit.
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