Three Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) employees have come forward to say they will not take the COVID-19 shot, and, subsequently, their employer has forced them into unpaid leave.
The ORNL employees have taken the matter to federal court.
Jordan Lefebvre, Ron Lefebvre, and Stephanie Bruffey discussed the matter in a video this week with Tennessee Stands founder Gary Humble.
ORNL officials initially said they would offer medical and religious exemptions to their employees, said Jordan Lefebvre.
“We had a deadline to submit our medical and religious exemptions on September 15. On the morning of September 16, Dr. Thomas Zacharia, the lab director at ORNL, said there were too many religious exemptions,” Jordan Lefebvre said.
“He [Zacharia] said religious exemptions needed to be prepared to be on unpaid leave through the end of the pandemic. That was the first we heard of that accommodation, and it was a little startling.”
Humble said he imagined the Tennessee General Assembly would have protected the federal employees — but, ultimately, they did not.
Bruffey said she realized she was going through “an adversarial process” and that her employer would not respect her sincerely held religious beliefs. She said she realized she could lose her job. And she said she panicked and contacted Governor Bill Lee and state legislators.
“We quickly found out there was no help to be found in that corner. We were receiving form emails back that clearly missed the point of our question, which was not about the vaccine mandate, but about how can you help us with preserving our religious liberties and our right to work under this religious exemption process,” Bruffey said.
“The emails we did get back said ‘We wish we could help and we support everyone’s right to choose, but we think everyone should take the vaccine if you are able to. Good luck.’”
Ron Lefebvre, meanwhile, said this experience has cost him sleepless nights and about 10 percent of his body mass.
“You aren’t eating. You are getting the group organized and hearing everyone’s story, day in and day out, late into the night. There are people who are scared. They don’t know who to go to, what to do, or where to go. The pressure exerted on these individuals is tremendous, and you are in it yourself,” Ron Lefebvre said.
“It’s difficult to have spent your entire professional career at an institute and have developed a level of trust. You feel a part of the company. You feel you are doing your bit and then suddenly to be ostracized and have no say effectively. It turns your world upside down. It is very frustrating, personally overwhelming, and disappointing in how this didn’t have to be this way.”
Humble, in an email to Tennessee Stands’ supporters, cited an online fundraiser to assist ORNL employees denied medical or religious exemptions and who need legal assistance.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Gov. Bill Lee” by Gov. Bill Lee.
