A group of BlueCross BlueShield employees whom the company terminated between October and November 2021 for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine filed a federal lawsuit this week against the company.
As previously reported by The Tennessee Star, In 2021 BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) terminated 41 of its employees, many of whom worked remotely from home, after the company implemented a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The company fired 19 of its employees in October 2021 and 22 additional employees in November of 2021 mere weeks ahead of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signing a a 21-page omnibus COVID-19 bill, House Bill (HB) 9077 that prohibits government agencies from imposing a COVID-19 vaccination or mask mandate on private companies and prohibits companies from disciplining staff members who do not receive the vaccine or demanding that visitors or employees present proof of immunization.
Many of the former employees submitted requests for religious exemptions and reasonable accommodations but the company rejected their requests informing them that they had 30 days to get the shot, find a new place of employment, or have their job terminated.
This group of terminated employees has now filed a lawsuit in federal court citing a Title VII violation regarding religious discrimination pertaining to the mandate.
The Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
A spokesperson for the group told The Tennessee Star in an e-mail on Thursday, that after a long investigation conducted by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) since the end of 2021, the employees have now received their right to sue letters and have filed a class action lawsuit.
According to the spokesperson following their termination from the company, several former BlueCross BlueShield employees have yet to secure employment.
Patricia P. said that after potential employers found out that a prior company terminated her they declined to offer her a position.
“I still do not have a job. I had a few interviews at first, but when the prospective employer found that I had been terminated, they either declined or did not call back. After a few months, I stopped getting calls,” Patricia P. said.
Another former employee in the lawsuit said that prior to her termination she was a model employee and dedicated to both her job and her team.
“I was a top performer dedicated to the mission of BCBST and the work of my team. To be cast aside and treated as less than was, simply put, a slap in the face. BCBST’s decision to fire us affected me emotionally, to a point where I experienced a crisis of faith and even questioned my self-worth,” Kerrie l said.
Other members in the lawsuit claim that they have not received any severance pay, lost years of accrued benefits, and suffered humiliation and emotional distress.
“It has been very hard both emotionally and financially. I loved my position, planned on retiring from BCBST, and to be discriminated against, my exemption request not accepted, and fired for this has been devastating. I’m almost 63 years old and it has been difficult for me to find another job. I feel like I was forced to retire and now we are having to sell our home,” Anne F said.
Terminated employee Matt A. said that it is good that they can finally do something about the incident.
“I’m glad something is being done, but remain empathetic of my former coworkers and their families – for my family – for my friends. The consequences and effects of BCBST’s actions go far beyond the day they fired us. The process was the punishment – but as difficult as this continues to be, I still wouldn’t do anything differently,” Matt A said.
According to the group of terminated employees in the lawsuit, they anticipate that this court fight may take 2-3 years before coming to a resolution.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Tennessee Star. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Crimes against Humanity. See Nuremberg Trials. Arrest Fauci and Gates.
I feel badly for these people and for anyone that had to choose between taking an experimental injection or forced to take ANY injection or medical treatment against their will in order to work, travel or play is a total violation of our God given rights BUT whatever compensation they get will not phase the insurance company one bit. They will pass the cost on to the rate payers. I think part of their lawsuit should prevent premium increases to cover the cost of the lawsuit.
good – i hope BCBS and all companies that did this lose and lose big
It was additionally a violation of federal law to force an unapproved “vaccine” medical experiment on any American without the right of refusal. No mrna “vaccine” was approved that was available in the United States. Saying “you had a choice, we didn’t force you” really isn’t any different than a male manager forcing a female subordinate to perform oral sex on him or lose her job. “You had a choice”.
Now for the lawsuits from the “vaccine”-injured employees….