Know Your Rights
Since our founding two months ago, MS Against Mandates has helped thousands navigate workplace mandates. This isn't a testament to our ability. It is a demonstration that if YOU take action, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. DO NOT listen to the rumors. DO NOT feel defeated without having ever tried. We are seeing resounding success. So please, reach out. We can get you started. Let's turn the thousands to millions.
- When possible, request ALL policies AND dates in writing. This includes your due dates AND the employer's deadlines to approve/deny exemptions. Request a description IN WRITING of accommodations for BOTH religious and medical exemptions.
- EVERYONE should make ALL of the requests outlined in Step 1. Do not assume your policies and exemption forms are the same as your coworkers in another department/facility. This will also make sure your employer is aware you are organized as individuals and a group.
- Where applicable, submit a religious AND a medical exemption. Due to our efforts, natural immunity is now considered a suitable medical exemption for one of our major hospital systems in Mississippi. Please have your employer contact us for more information on how to apply this at your facility.
- Here is some basic guidance for your religious exemptions:
- First, be sure to pray about it. The most important thing is that it is sincere.
- Secondly, we recommend to not use the fetal cell position since the new vaccine technology for Pfizer and Moderna does not technically require fetal cell lines.
- Third, there are only three pieces of information the employer should ask on a religious exemption: what is your belief that prohibits you from getting the vaccine, how does the workplace policy conflict with this belief, and how can the employer accommodate you. If you're writing your own letter, your opening should include something like this (important legal terms in parentheses): “Based on my (sincerely held belief,) I am requesting a (reasonable accommodation) in connection with the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate.”
- Fourth, do not feel compelled to reference your church or pastor. It is none of your employer’s business where you practice your religion, unless you wish to share it with them. However, reference with caution, because they may try to claim the church or pastor does not have a doctrine against vaccines.
- Fifth, clarify the accommodations you feel are reasonable. Do not agree to any accommodations that make you uncomfortable.
- Finally, if your exemption is denied, immediately file an EEOC charge. BE SURE TO FILE A HARD COPY DIRECTLY TO THE EEOC FIELD OFFICE CLOSEST TO YOUR EMPLOYER'S LOCATION. Print, complete, and sign this form (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NqOgXqwmxz-fd0rGg_-Y5SrvR5nBHMQ-/view?usp=sharing) and submit to the closest EEOC field office. Call Lindsey at 662-694-9249 if you need help. This will protect you from termination/retaliation while an EEOC investigation is open, which can take months. A lot should unfold in the courts over this time.
- If you're interested in signing up for the class action lawsuit, please fill out this form:
https://us5.list-manage.com/survey?u=56e5bf2c60761040bd69b8df5&id=1c65c0ebd1&attribution=false. If your deadline is on or before December 8, please call Lindsey at 662-694-9249 to expedite the process.
- Email us at MSagainstMANDATES@gmail.com if you have any questions.
***For medical exemptions, please call our Doctors Who Care Hotline at 601-526-3372.***