A bill is being considered by the South Carolina legislature that would penalize private companies for every employee who was fired because of a mandate regarding vaccines.

Shane Massey’s proposal would fine private companies for forcing employees to get the shot. This would leave them with roughly $7,500 per employee who is fired because of the rule. The proposal taxes private businesses that terminate unvaccinated workers and prohibits businesses such as hotels and restaurants, medical facilities, and retail stores from denying unvaccinated persons access to their services. It was approved last week.

Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey proposed an amendment to the bill that would require private employers to pay a surcharge of 10x the highest unemployment tax rate ($7,644) per employee they terminate for not complying with a vaccine.

Massey’s proposal contains virtually all of the same provisions as the House’s last year. It includes a ban on mandates from public employers to administer vaccines, a prohibition against student vaccination requirements, an exemption for pregnant women who can prove that they have had COVID-19, and a requirement that refusers be fired by private companies are entitled to unemployment.

Massey made it clear, however, that he does not like interfering with the private business practices, but he feels they are left with no choice.

“This isn’t a comfortable place for me. Massey stated that this is not where I would ordinarily be and that it isn’t somewhere I enjoy being. “But I feel like a backward person.”

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce strongly opposes the proposal and appeals to the state’s proud history of allowing private sector employers the freedom to manage their businesses without interference from the government.

Americans continue to struggle with vaccine mandates. The Supreme Court won a significant victory in January for approximately 84 million workers after it struck down President Biden’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandate.