An arbitrator has ruled that Quinte Health should have offered an “unpaid leave of absence” option to nine nurses who were fired in 2022 for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
B.C.- based James Hayes also ruled that the nurses should be reinstated.
In a decision late last month, Hayes said Quinte Health’s mandatory vaccination policy was reasonable given the growing threat of COVID-19 in the community.
However, Hayes clearly states the nine nurses should have been given the option to go on unpaid leave, as being fired hurt their future career prospects.
Quinte Health told the arbitrator it had considered unpaid leaves of absence but had dismissed the option because it wasn’t known how long the pandemic would last.
The arbitrator has directed Quinte Health and the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) to discuss the nurses’ reinstatement.
ONA had filed a grievance with Ontario’s Ministry of Labour against Quinte Health’s decision to terminate the nurses’ employment.
See the arbitrator’s findings and decision here.
