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?

I'm quite shocked at the majority of the replied, although it is AIBU so I suppose people will mostly want to be contrary and stick the boot in.
Possibly a lot of Australians posting where this stuff is normalised now?

I know the term "slippery slope" is being overused a lot but that is exactly what this is. Denying people employment on the basis of a medical intervention is a pretty big departure from what we were as a society in 2019, and having to show proof of said medical employment to gain access to services likewise.

If it becomes a permanent feature, I very much doubt it will stop at covid and at some point all the people pouring scorn on the OP will come up against something that they don't like or that effects them personally.

I used to read and watch quite a lot of dystopian sci-fi and this gives me a very uncomfortable feeling.

Also everyone saying "just take the vaccine". No medication is entirely risk free. And where there is risk there needs to be choice. And "choosing" to lose your job is not choice, it's coercion, which is inappropriate in a medical setting.

These principles matter, deeply, and it's upsetting to see how lightly they are being tossed aside.

@DollyDinkle

What is outrageous is that people don’t have the vaccine and they fight against having a pass.

What is proven is the vaccine reduces the severity of the disease and is extremely safe in terms of any medicine.

So it’s people who don’t have it and keep fighting sensible precautions who are continuing to mean the disease spreads.

I truly wish they could become adults behave in that fashion and understand they live in a community.

Remember you choose who you for work.

The issue is that a private company are trying to force their employees to be vaccinated. It is an untried vaccine and you can still catch Covid even being double-jabbed and having had a booster.

The issue is autonomy over your own body. Do you really wish to live in a society where you have to have to meet certain medical criteria in order to be able to work, earn, socialise, enjoy music and culture.

I am double-jabbed and have had a booster. I’ve also had Covid twice and a six week long debilitating headache after the first AstraZeneca vaccine. The link with severe headache and serious thrombosis wasn’t known about when I complained 3 times to my doctors and was bedridden for a week. No medication was shifting my headache.
I would still take the risk but I defend anyone’s right, especially the young and healthy, not to have the vaccine. We live supposedly in a free country and should be able to make up our own minds and be given all available information.

As a side note, when I went for the booster I was offered the flu jab at the same time. I said no thanks I’ll just have the one vaccine today. Doctor then said to make sure I leave 2 weeks before having the flu shot. ???

@BoredZelda

It’s unreasonable to expect an employer to make adjustments for your disability if you won’t disclose to them that you have one.

One thing covid has shown is all of a sudden, non disabled people think having to do the kind of stuff disabled people have had to do for decades is entirely unacceptable. I'd love to think this will lead to a change in how we treat disabled people but I expect it won't.

It won't. Because their inconvenience is temporary.

Get over yourself, OP. It's not that deep.

@EileenGC

To be honest that policy is for full-time in-person workers only. Any guests or those who only come into the office occasionally must be fully vaccinated at my company too, no discussion.

And your company are breaking the law!!

Are you actually vaccinated op?

I really.dont see the issue, but tbf I also don't see being vaccinated as private medical information - 🤷‍♀️ if they were asking for access to my entire medical records I'd feel differently but to provide proof of being vaccinated against an illness which has killed 3 people close to me then ok happy to oblige.

@KalvinPhillipsManBun

I am shocked how many people just allow your freedom and rights to be taken away so easily without fighting it. You never have to provide proof ever, your medical records are private and confidential, say no and threaten legal action for it.

She's in probation they'll easily manger her out!

Get someone in that's less difficult.

Society has probably always been like this, I just shamefully didn't realise it before:

Those who care about others

and

Those who only care about themselves.

I know which society I want to be part of, even if it does mean personal sacrifices.

*manage her out

I work for the NHS. Pretty certain this rule will be in place for the UKs biggest employer in the not to distant future. So I think your company can do what they want as a condition of your employement.

Get the vaccine, problem solved. I’ve had 3 so far and am still alive (and gaven’t had covid)

** maxbabi

Mummyoflittledragon
I’m still suffering from side effects of the vaccine. It does happen.

Same here! And will continue to...no one gives a shit though**

^Unfortunate for you that you have had some side effects. Every vaccine in history has side effects. You just got unlucky.

Heartsvsbrain I don’t really understand do you really care about others more than you care about yourself or your own family. Really?

You are basically saying that if you refuse then you only care about yourself. You may also care about personal freedom and other rights. Not just Covid.

@KalvinPhillipsManBun

I am shocked how many people just allow your freedom and rights to be taken away so easily without fighting it. You never have to provide proof ever, your medical records are private and confidential, say no and threaten legal action for it.

It's not illegal to ask for proof of vaccination. The company are entitled to do this.

The vaccine is not "safe" as quoted by pp. The adverse effects are huge and I know of lots of people who are suffering jab side effects including a 40 year old who is having to relearn to walk and talk due to a stroke.

Op you can ask your employer to accept full liability for taking the jab. They won't (just like the companies themselves!).

@KalvinPhillipsManBun

I am shocked how many people just allow your freedom and rights to be taken away so easily without fighting it. You never have to provide proof ever, your medical records are private and confidential, say no and threaten legal action for it.

Good luck with that. Precisel what legal action do you advocate that OP brings, and how do you suggest she finances it?

You may also care about personal freedom and other rights. Not just Covid

That's where I am. Covid will pass. The question is what sort of society will we be left with afterwards?

I'm also fanatical about informed consent for any medical intervention, as I have been permanently injured from a prescription drug.

Oh great another anti-vaxx whinger thread.

Excellent points made by PPs.

To summarise:
a) Get vaccinated: or
b) Get sacked.

No laws broken.

HTH

@DollyDinkle

The vaccine is not "safe" as quoted by pp. The adverse effects are huge and I know of lots of people who are suffering jab side effects including a 40 year old who is having to relearn to walk and talk due to a stroke.

Op you can ask your employer to accept full liability for taking the jab. They won't (just like the companies themselves!).

Side effects are common with any jab, extreme side effects are not common with this jab when you compare how many have had it.

The issue is that a private company are trying to force their employees to be vaccinated. It is an untried vaccine and you can still catch Covid even being double-jabbed and having had a booster.

Billions of people have now had the vaccine, and it's based on a well-established vaccine. You really cannot claim that it's untried.

@DollyDinkle

The vaccine is not "safe" as quoted by pp. The adverse effects are huge and I know of lots of people who are suffering jab side effects including a 40 year old who is having to relearn to walk and talk due to a stroke.

Op you can ask your employer to accept full liability for taking the jab. They won't (just like the companies themselves!).

Amazing I know none!

It’s choice though isn’t it.

It’s your choice, as an individual, whether to have the jab or not and that’s fine.

Your company has a duty of care and responsibility to all their employees and that includes staff who I would imagine could have a variety of health issues. The company have exercised, within the law, their choice in how they want to go about this.

YABU.

In much of Europe you have to show a vaccine certificate to get into any venues with other people - cafes, pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels.

It's about keeping people safe.

People acting like this is incredibly sensitive personal medical information are just being awkward and kicking up a fuss over absolutely nothing.

Just get vaccinated or work from home.

Astonishing isn't it @Offmyfence - I also know none.

My eldest daughter had an allergic reaction to the MMR. I bet nobody else here knows anyone who had that. Because it's possible but incredibly rare. (She was fine, and she had the booster in controlled conditions in hospital with zero effects a couple of years later. Yes of course I wanted it done despite everything because a managed allergic reaction is better than measles and rubella)

If there is a medical reason for not having it you will just receive an exemption card surely.

It’s going to come into force and should have happened in this country going back years. For example in the USA it has (I believe) long been the case that your child can’t attend state school without their childhood vaccinations. This protects everyone.

I run the risk of serious side effects from an vaccine due to a medical condition I had my done by the gp with two health professional standing by in the same room - I had to wait 30 minutes to be sure. The risk of Covid is far greater. I had it 4 weeks ago and wasn’t as ill as I thought I would be.