Lawyer: Workers Have Right To Refuse Vaccine, But Will Face Consequences

(KNSI) – Courtrooms across the country are expected to hear lawsuits brought on by workers who are opposed to covid 19 vaccine requirements.

St. Cloud lawyer and managing partner of Bradshaw and Bryant Law Firm Mike Bryant says he thinks people are getting mixed up about what makes a constitutional right.

“You have the constitutional right to decide not to get vaccinated. The consequences of it are not the same. Particularly in a right-to-work state. I don’t think you have any kind of constitutional right to say I have a right to this job.”

Bryant says companies can’t discriminate against someone based on sexual orientation, age, gender identity, race, religion, disability or ethnicity. He says deciding to get a mandate for a federally recognized vaccine doesn’t fall into any of those categories. Bryant says there could be some minor exceptions.

“What will get interesting is if there’s religious or if there are other reasons why a person isn’t getting the vaccination, then that would be more of an issue. But if it’s just simply a person saying, I don’t want to get vaccinated. Then you go with the consequences of not getting vaccinated.”

Bryant says he expects there to be several challenges to companies’ vaccination mandates. However, he expects a judge will strike down any challenge to a company’s vaccination mandates.

CentraCare Health has put a vaccine mandate in place for all of its workers with a deadline of December 15th.

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