(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – In an outrageous move that has angered millions, a major healthcare provider is removing Christmas Eve as a company holiday and replacing it with Juneteenth.
Emory Healthcare, the largest hospital operator in Georgia, is replacing the cherished Christian holiday, the eve of the birthday of Christ, with Juneteenth, the day marking the end of slavery, The Washington Times reports.
As a result, Emory Healthcare’s workers will have to work on Christmas Eve or take paid time off if they wish to observe the holiday.
The change in favor of the leftist notion of “equity” was announced by Emory Healthcare CEO Joon Lee in a memo to employees.
Lee informed that Juneteenth, marked on June 19, would become “an EHC observed holiday,” while Christmas Eve was going off the list, thus preserving the number of nine annual paid holidays.
“We hope this will allow more opportunities for celebration, reflection and education,” the Emory Healthcare CEO announced in the August 31 memo posted online.
He also told the employees the shift was made due to “listening to your feedback” and the company’s commitment to “diversity, equity and inclusion.”
The change for EHC workers will go into force in 2024, leaving Christmas Eve 2023 as a paid company holiday for the last time.
The report emphasizes that companies have been pressured to declare Juneteenth a paid day off because, in 2021, President Joe Biden officially made it a federal holiday.
At the same time, Emory Healthcare’s decision led many to wonder what was wrong with observing both Christmas Eve and Juneteenth.
“I don’t understand why they can’t do both?” NAACP DeKalb County President Edwina Clanton told Atlanta News First.
She was among activists concerned that canceling Christmas Eve could generate a backlash against Juneteenth.
“I’m sure it will put anger in some hearts. Why do we have to do this? Why can’t 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,” Clanton argued.
“Exactly who did Emory listen to? I assure you most of the black women there will now have to work on Christmas Eve and then go home to do the Christmas cooking,” warned Georgia-based radio host Erick Erickson.
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