Can my employer ban me from the office?

[Anothercovidthread]

NC.
I have recently started a new job. It is a non customer facing office job, based in Scotland. The company is very large. I have been working from home since I began the job due to covid restrictions. Today, we were told that we will return to the office towards the end of the month and going forwards we will do 3 days in, and 2 days from home. However, to enter the office, you must show proof of having had 2 covid vaccines. My employer will not store details of who has been vaccinated, you just need to show the info to enter. If you have not had the vaccine you are not allowed in the office unless special circumstances and permissions are agreed directly with HR.

I'm still in probation so very concerned about kicking up a fuss but I think this is very wrong.

1. Why should I have to share medical information with reception staff on a daily basis for the foreseeable?
2. Can the company legally ban people from the office for not having a non mandatory vaccine?
3. Assuming that if you have some kind of non vax agreement with HR, you are provided with some other documentation allowing entry to the office, is the company allowed to insist that its shown on a daily basis to whoever is on reception?

AIBU, the employer is just taking steps to keep people safe?

What is your problem with carrying a vacc card with you.Its not that staff is assembled in the entrance hall and people's names get called out,who in the office has genital wards.FFS get a vaccine or find yourself on jobseekers allowance for the rest of your life.your choice.

@Anothercovidthread Please speak with someone. Seek counselling for this fear so at least you can make an informed choice rather than one based in anxiety. Anxiety holds you back.

I really do wish you well.

@Anothercovidthread

NC. I have recently started a new job. It is a non customer facing office job, based in Scotland. The company is very large. I have been working from home since I began the job due to covid restrictions. Today, we were told that we will return to the office towards the end of the month and going forwards we will do 3 days in, and 2 days from home. However, to enter the office, you must show proof of having had 2 covid vaccines. My employer will not store details of who has been vaccinated, you just need to show the info to enter. If you have not had the vaccine you are not allowed in the office unless special circumstances and permissions are agreed directly with HR.

I'm still in probation so very concerned about kicking up a fuss but I think this is very wrong.

1. Why should I have to share medical information with reception staff on a daily basis for the foreseeable?
2. Can the company legally ban people from the office for not having a non mandatory vaccine?
3. Assuming that if you have some kind of non vax agreement with HR, you are provided with some other documentation allowing entry to the office, is the company allowed to insist that its shown on a daily basis to whoever is on reception?

AIBU, the employer is just taking steps to keep people safe?

I'm sure you're allowed to look for another job that fits your expectations if their steps to maintain a safe working environment are too much for you.

I really don't see how it's any more private than something like, say, your age. Yet you'll have no doubt been asked for proof of age at some point and happily demonstrated proof of that element of your personal data?

[quote Anothercovidthread]@lljkk yes, this is exactly my issue. I feel so anxious about the whole thing.

It isn't about having the vaccine, I have to carry the data on my phone or on paper, in my bag and show it to lots of people. The thought of this is terrifying me. This is data that to me is very private.

I have never been to the countries you need to show a yellow fever jab for. I don't go to big football games or places where this is now the norm. To me this is a huge change to my life and what I have considered normal, I feel scared.[/quote]
Scared?

Dear Heavens Above.

[quote Anothercovidthread]@robinsreliant thank you. I think I do need to speak to someone. I have never felt fear like this in my life. I can see myself becoming a hermit and this is not me. I like people and working in teams and I try my best at work to do a good job and work for better positions when I can. I have never been in trouble at any job iv ever had, I am not someone constantly challenging the normal flow. I can see pp talking about cctv and other means that people are tracked. I think the difference is that these things you hear they are there but they are removed from you. I cant see the database or whatever. With this, I am having to carry details of myself and it provide it to multiple people. I cant explain what I am worried about though, I just feel deep inside me that I don't feel comfortable and its a horrible feeling.[/quote]
Then seriously, you need help.

Perhaps the lockdowns and precautions have affected you more than you realise.

Talk to someone (not Mumsnet)

Yes they can do this - there’s a global pandemic.

I can understand you might not want to share information about your last bout of STD; but how does it harm you to show that you are fully vaccinated?

We are dealing with a global pandemic - we are gradually beginning to get on top of it, thanks to the diligence of the scientists and the presence of free vaccines. Why might you want to interfere with that very welcome progress?

Covid will be with us always now and we need to be flexible and adaptable to keep everyone as safe as possible into the future.

Just get your vaccine card out and wave it at them ... and if you do not have one then for heaven's sake get on with it.

Yabu yes.

@jerometheturnipking

I really don't see how it's any more private than something like, say, your age. Yet you'll have no doubt been asked for proof of age at some point and happily demonstrated proof of that element of your personal data?

I don't agree that having to give personal data about one's age is in any way equivalent to proving vaccination status.

I would be happy to produce my vaccination status at any time because it is a matter of collective public health for us as a society to be willing to play our part as much as we can, to get through this pandemic. I see no need to have to flash my birth certificate to all and sundry when that information has zero public health implication.

OP, with the best intentions, it looks like you need some counselling regarding this type of anxiety.
It's not a lot different than your doctor or health professional accessing your medical records.
This is just one record.

And, while the vaccine (or the tests) won't stop transmission, it does reduce it significantly. With the vaccines (and testing) people are safer.

Otherwise, keep working from home...

If having a vaccine cert causes anxiety then the very thought of carrying a mobile phone - and all the data it contains - must be absolutely terrifying.

Your employer has a duty of care to all its employees. Under the circumstances it's prudent for them to reduce the risk of covid infection.
Based on the current available, peer reviewed scientific evidence, this means that ensuring and checking. that all employees are vaccinated, unless medically exempt.
A covid outbreak in a small team in an office is also a significant potential risk to business continuity

@KerryWeaver

If having a vaccine cert causes anxiety then the very thought of carrying a mobile phone - and all the data it contains - must be absolutely terrifying.

Agreed - mobile phones carry and transmit a tremendous amount of data that would startle most people if they understood quite how comprehensive and revealing it is. Browsers and their thousands of cookies. The list is endless.

Even Oyster or similar travel cards contain a lot of personal information.

I had some sympathy for the OP 's first post where non-vaxx status was claimed but it swiftly shifted to claims she's been invited to substantiate about the dangers of vaccines and no sources have been forthcoming (last time I checked).

OP seems to have shifted ground considerably from the opening post.

if you're vaccinated then there's no problem

Yes there is.
I'm double vaccinated but really uncomfortable that people are basically being forced to be vaccinated in order to go about everyday life.
Medical decisions, vaccines it should always be about personal choice and have bodily autonomy.

@Anothercovidthread

I don't have a driving license, I have a passport although, I couldn't tell you the last time I went abroad.

Perhaps if I went abroad more often it would be more normal to me.

I don't no why I'm so frightened. I wish I did. I don't no how to describe it, I don't like spiders either, I cant really say why, I just don't. It kind of feels like that. The thought of showing the info to someone makes me feel very anxious and even now, I could cry. I don't no how to feel the way that most of you do and to think this is all OK. Believe me, I wish I did. I am sitting here now thinking about it and I feel my heart racing. To me it is just very private. I don't no how else to explain.

If your job makes you feel anxious then you should be looking for another job.

I wish my workplace would do this for all staff and visitors. I have an anti vaxxer colleague who I actively avoid getting close to, as do many others!

basically being forced to be vaccinated in order to go about everyday life.
We're still in the middle of a pandemic
Why should any halfwit refusing a vaccination be allowed to merrily go about their everyday life without a care for the impact on anyone else?

Just shows what a farce the 'vaccine' is.

It's quite disturbing where we've heading. Not a shot fired or a law made.

Thank you to all those who have been supportive and also to those who have shared their opposing views constructively, I have a lot to consider. I am not going to reply anymore, I really appreciate the feedback received. It has become clear to me I have been affected by the lockdowns/restrictions and am suffering anxiety. I was unaware of this and have never experied anxiety before. It is frightening. I will contact my GP on monday. In the same way that pp are insisting my colleagues must be protected and their health supported, I also deserve these rights too and my mental health is equally important.

Of course they can ask this. I have to prove I've had all sorts of vaccinations for my profession. It's a term of my employment. I also have to provide medical reports every 5 years and opticians reports etc.

That's all personal medical info. If I don't want to share that info I can get a new job in a different industry where they don't require any of that.

I'm fed up of these threads of people moaning. I don't think it's really about the information sharing it's about the fact you feel like they're judging you for not choosing to have the vaccine.

If you don't like it, get a new job.

@GreyhoundG1rl

basically being forced to be vaccinated in order to go about everyday life. We're still in the middle of a pandemic Why should any halfwit refusing a vaccination be allowed to merrily go about their everyday life without a care for the impact on anyone else?

Still in the middle of a pandemic? If you had no access to media coverage would you even know anything was going on because I wouldn't. I'm seeing all these world leaders in Scotland with no masks and no social distancing, surely if the risk was high they'd have done this by zoom or at least taken some measures? Watch how they act because if they don't seem worried then neither should we because they know what's truly happening.

I'm seeing all these world leaders in Scotland with no masks and no social distancing, surely if the risk was high they'd have done this by zoom or at least taken some measures?

Well, presumably they are all vaccinated and also tested beforehand.

@SoupDragon

I'm seeing all these world leaders in Scotland with no masks and no social distancing, surely if the risk was high they'd have done this by zoom or at least taken some measures?

Well, presumably they are all vaccinated and also tested beforehand.

And they showed their vaccine passport on the way in 😂

@SoupDragon

I'm seeing all these world leaders in Scotland with no masks and no social distancing, surely if the risk was high they'd have done this by zoom or at least taken some measures?

Well, presumably they are all vaccinated and also tested beforehand.

And given the disastrous decisions and stupid personal behaviour many of them have displayed during the pandemic, I think PP is ascribing to them a degree of sagacity and comprehension that I haven’t observed myself.