A lawsuit filed this week by federal employment regulators claims Mayo Clinic violated an employee’s religious freedom by forcing him to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission brought the suit against the Rochester-based health care provider on Wednesday.
The suit claims a Mayo security guard asked for an exemption to the company’s vaccine requirement in 2021, citing his Pentecostal faith. According to the lawsuit, the employee offered to wear a mask and test for COVID-19 instead of getting a vaccine.
Mayo allegedly denied the request, telling the employee he did not meet the requirements for a religious exemption.
According to the lawsuit, Mayo told the employee he would be fired if he did not get the shot. The employee got vaccinated shortly after.
Mayo Clinic set a requirement for employees to get vaccinated in the fall of 2021, according to the lawsuit.
“Employees have a right to request reasonable religious accommodations without fear of punishment or termination, including for vaccination policies,” Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Acting Chair Andrea Lucas said in a statement. “Effectively forcing employees to submit to vaccinations against sincerely held religious beliefs can violate federal civil rights laws.”
In response to an inquiry from MPR News, Mayo Clinic said it does not comment on pending litigation.
Federal regulators are seeking monetary damages and want Mayo Clinic to update its vaccine exemption policy.
