McMaster Sued

The Post & Courier reported the lawsuit against South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster for his power grab forcing state employees working remotely to return to their workplace. The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina alleges the Republican governor’s order “disproportionately burden women, people who are pregnant, people of color, and people with disabilities.” The order forces state employees who have children in remote schooling to return to in-person work.

The ACLU estimates 24,000 state employees have been working remotely during the pandemic. People with disabilities and medical conditions that put them at risk for a severe case of COVID-19 can request a temporary exception until they can get a vaccine.

Susan Dunn is the legal director of the ACLU of South Carolina. She said the governor’s order ignores public health guidelines. For example, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s recommendation that all employers “continue to consider ways to utilize workplace flexibilities, such as remote work.”

“The governor does not have the authority to require non-essential state workers to put themselves and their families at an unnecessary health risk,” Dunn said. “This order is dangerous, irresponsible, and completely unnecessary.”

Meanwhile South Carolina ranks 44th in vaccines administered per 100,000 people.  Stay safe.