4,900+ healthcare job cuts in January linked to vaccine refusal

Editor's Note

In January, 5,757 workers lost their employment because they refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as ordered by a federal mandate and various local mandates covering private businesses. Out of those workers, 4,934 were healthcare providers, the February 4 Becker’s Hospital Review reports from data gathered by executive outplacement and coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

The data also shows that 19,064 job cuts were announced in January overall, and that the healthcare industry had the most cuts, at 5,053.

"Many employers who implemented vaccine policies last year gave workers until early January to comply," said Andrew Challenger, senior vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, according to Becker’s. "Job cuts remain low, and companies are still hard-pressed to fill open positions."

Staffing shortage is still a grave concern for most, if not all, hospital executives, and many healthcare workers are choosing to leave their employment rather than adhere to vaccine mandates. OR Manager reported on the many reasons why the mandates have been so divisive within the healthcare workforce; read the full story here.