Orange County

Disney addresses new legislation that would fine companies for enforcing vaccine mandates

By Nikki DeMarco, WFTV.com

Disney World's 50-year employees Guests stroll along Main Street at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The park will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Oct. 1. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (John Raoux/AP)

By Nikki DeMarco, WFTV.com

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Disney addresses reports and social media blogs about ending the vaccine mandates at their Florida properties.

“We believe that our approach to mandatory vaccines has been the right one as we’ve continued to focus on the safety and well-being of our Cast Members and Guests, and at this point, more than 90 percent of active Florida-based Cast Members have already verified that they are fully vaccinated. We will address legal developments as appropriate,” said a Disney spokesperson.

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In July, Disney announced that it will mandate all salaried and non-union hourly employees in the U.S. to be fully vaccinated by the end of September.

In October, Disney announced unionized employees must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 22.

The Service Trade Council Union told Channel 9 back in August that cast members who do not comply with the vaccine requirement and do not request a legitimate accommodation will be separated from the company with a “yes” rehire status.

Read: Disney cast members protest company’s vaccine mandate

Recent legislation signed by Gov. DeSantis this week would fine businesses for continuing to enforce vaccine mandates.

The legislation will also prevent employers from firing workers over COVID-19 vaccination mandates and allow parents to decide whether to vaccinate their children.

The bills were passed through a special session of the Florida Legislature.

Read: DeSantis signs bills to prevent employers from firing workers over COVID-19 vaccination mandates

Earlier this month, a federal court declined to lift its stay on the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more workers.

The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly tests.

Read: Federal court declines to lift stay on vaccine mandate

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