Ensuring Unemployment Compensation for Unvaccinated Workers
August 30, 2021 02:28 PM to All Senate Members
Circulated By
Senator Doug Mastriano
R Senate District 33
Along With
Sen. Scott Hutchinson
R Senate District 21
Memo
In the near future, we will introduce legislation to ensure that workers who are terminated or forced to resign by their employers for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccination are not disqualified from UC benefits.
In a recent statement, the PA Department of Labor and Industry could not definitively say that workers in this situation would qualify for unemployment benefits.
We believe that the legislature must take action to protect individuals who practice the basic human right of deciding what goes into their body. They should not be punished by the Commonwealth and deprived of benefits as they seek other employment.
Our bill will amend the Unemployment Compensation Law to ensure that workers fired or forced to resign for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination will qualify for full unemployment benefits. The legislation will add a new section to the law that states the following:
In a recent statement, the PA Department of Labor and Industry could not definitively say that workers in this situation would qualify for unemployment benefits.
We believe that the legislature must take action to protect individuals who practice the basic human right of deciding what goes into their body. They should not be punished by the Commonwealth and deprived of benefits as they seek other employment.
Our bill will amend the Unemployment Compensation Law to ensure that workers fired or forced to resign for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination will qualify for full unemployment benefits. The legislation will add a new section to the law that states the following:
- Refusal to obtain COVID-19 vaccination shall NOT be considered “willful misconduct”
- A voluntary resignation due to an employer’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate shall be considered a cause of a “necessitous and compelling nature”
Legislation
Document - Introduced as SB 885
Last updated on August 30, 2021 02:29 PM
Ensuring Unemployment Compensation for Unvaccinated Workers
August 30, 2021 02:28 PM to All Senate Members
Circulated By
MASTRIANO and HUTCHINSON
Memo
In the near future, we will introduce legislation to ensure that workers who are terminated or forced to resign by their employers for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccination are not disqualified from UC benefits.
In a recent statement, the PA Department of Labor and Industry could not definitively say that workers in this situation would qualify for unemployment benefits.
We believe that the legislature must take action to protect individuals who practice the basic human right of deciding what goes into their body. They should not be punished by the Commonwealth and deprived of benefits as they seek other employment.
Our bill will amend the Unemployment Compensation Law to ensure that workers fired or forced to resign for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination will qualify for full unemployment benefits. The legislation will add a new section to the law that states the following:
In a recent statement, the PA Department of Labor and Industry could not definitively say that workers in this situation would qualify for unemployment benefits.
We believe that the legislature must take action to protect individuals who practice the basic human right of deciding what goes into their body. They should not be punished by the Commonwealth and deprived of benefits as they seek other employment.
Our bill will amend the Unemployment Compensation Law to ensure that workers fired or forced to resign for refusing a COVID-19 vaccination will qualify for full unemployment benefits. The legislation will add a new section to the law that states the following:
- Refusal to obtain COVID-19 vaccination shall NOT be considered “willful misconduct”
- A voluntary resignation due to an employer’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate shall be considered a cause of a “necessitous and compelling nature”
Document
Introduced as SB 885
Last Updated
August 30, 2021 02:29 PM
Generated 05/18/2025 06:59 PM