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<\/source><\/picture>Emory Healthcare recently informed employees that Juneteenth will replace Christmas Eve as a paid holiday to ensure \u201cequitable outcomes,\u201d meaning employees can receive holiday pay for the former, but they must use paid time off to celebrate the latter.<\/p>\n
The healthcare system is part of Emory University in Georgia, one of the state\u2019s largest systems. Starting January 2024, EHC will implement the plan announced on Aug. 31 to remove Christmas Eve from its holiday calendar and replace it with Juneteenth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to a statement by EHC CEO Joon Sup Lee that Washington Free Beacon reporter Aaron Sibarium shared on X<\/a>\u00a0Thursday, the healthcare system made the decision based on feedback from the EHC team.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We hope this will allow more opportunities for celebration, reflection, and education,” Emory Healthcare CEO Joon Sup Lee wrote in an email to employees. pic.twitter.com\/5WFWx0q49r<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Aaron Sibarium (@aaronsibarium) September 7, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cAt its heart, diversity, equity, and inclusion at Emory Healthcare (EHC) is about creating an environment of true belonging for our patients and team members, while ensuring equitable outcomes for all,\u201d Lee wrote in an email to employees.\u00a0<\/p>\n The EHC CEO hopes the change \u201cwill allow more opportunities for celebration, reflection, and education.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n In his statement, Lee said EHC observes nine paid holidays while other Atlanta healthcare systems average six paid holidays. He stated that patients could not schedule appointments during these holidays, as EHC\u2019s clinics and business offices are closed in observance of the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTo minimize impact to patient care, we will not be adding another paid holiday to our calendar,\u201d Lee stated.\u00a0<\/p>\n While EHC intends to remove Christmas Eve from its holiday calendar by January 2024, the CEO said employees will still have the option to use paid time off to celebrate the December holiday.<\/p>\n Emory Healthcare did not immediately respond to The Christian Post\u2019s request for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n As\u00a0Atlanta News First<\/a> reported, anonymous employees expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, with one unnamed provider alleging that many feel \u201cfrustrated\u201d about the change.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t replace one for the other. It\u2019s completely inappropriate. It\u2019s essentially pitting a Christian holiday against something that\u2019s to be celebratory for everyone \u2014 but specifically for our black colleagues,\u201d the provider told the outlet.\u00a0<\/p>\n Another unnamed employee said many were under the impression that EHC intended to add Juneteenth to the calendar and removing Christmas Eve is not something that the staff wanted.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething that should be an extremely joyful and collective celebration has become another reminder of how our black colleagues can\u2019t have anything without sacrifice,\u201d the employee said.\u00a0<\/p>\n NAACP DeKalb County President Edwina Clanton also questioned why EHC could not have Juneteenth and Christmas Eve on the calendar at the same time.<\/p>\n Clanton wants to see companies recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday, but she is concerned that EHC\u2019s actions could result in tension.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it will put anger in some hearts,\u201d she said. \u201cWhy do we have to do this? Why can\u2019t we have our old holidays off? Some more consideration, even asking the employees which days you want to give up, that may have worked better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Juneteenth<\/a> marks the anniversary of when U.S. Major Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 on June 19, 1865, declaring that the slaves in Galveston, Texas, were free. Juneteenth is one of the newest federal holidays, as it only received its official designation<\/a>\u00a0in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the signing of the \u201cJuneteenth National Independence Day Act\u201d that established the federal holiday, President Joe Biden said the observance \u201cmarks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation and a promise of a brighter morning to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m especially pleased that we showed the nation that we can come together as Democrats and Republicans to commemorate this day with the overwhelming bipartisan support of the Congress. I hope this is the beginning of a change in the way we deal with one another.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at:\u00a0samantha.kamman@christianpost.com<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter:\u00a0@Samantha_Kamman<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST<\/strong> newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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