Nearly 700 Alberta healthcare workers who refused the COVID-19 jab are set to receive thousands of dollars in compensation following an arbitrator's ruling

696 Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Alberta Precision Laboratories employees are slated to receive thousands of dollars in payouts and reimbursement for COVID-19 testing expenses they paid out of pocket.

This compensation follows grievances filed by numerous health care workers who refused the COVID-19 vaccine. The decision stems from a recent settlement between the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) and Alberta Health Services.

Unvaccinated healthcare workers in Alberta were put on unpaid leave for approximately three months before being allowed back to work.

Prior to being placed on unpaid leave, some healthcare workers who opted not to get the shot had to pay out of pocket for COVID-19 testing.

It's notable that AHS upheld a double standard by disregarding 175 unvaccinated healthcare workers in several different Alberta healthcare facilities. This leniency stemmed from low vaccine uptake among healthcare staff.

According to AHS, who spoke to CBC regarding these staff members, this decision to keep unvaccinated healthcare workers employed was made due to concerns that care could be compromised at healthcare sites with low compliance. It was stated that enforcing vaccination mandates at certain locations would have affected "19 programs or departments within several hospitals and continuing care homes, as well as nine emergency medical service stations."

Staff members within those 19 different programs or departments were mandated to undergo rapid COVID-19 testing. However, the information does not specify whether these staff members at those particular locations were required to cover the costs of the testing or not.

Arbitrator Cheryl Yingst Bartel's binding recommendations require AHS to compensate healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and lab technicians, who faced mandatory leaves, with $5,000 each.

Additionally, employees who were required to pay out of pocket for regular COVID-19 test expenses will be fully reimbursed for documented test costs.

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11Robin Graham, Laurie Hamill Richter and 9 others

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11Robin Graham, Laurie Hamill Richter and 9 others