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 don’t see an issue with just showing your vaccine card. My employers have asked us to provide information on if I am vaccinated. It isn’t mandatory but I told them. I don’t see it as medical information. I don’t think it is intrusive either. The pandemic is a massive deal and people are doing their best to get through it. People are dying and your employer will have a duty of care to their staff. Maybe showing you are vaccinated won’t make a difference to if people get it, but employers and businesses are doing their best to get through this, probably making decisions that seem to make no sense along the way. We just have to do our best. I still wear a mask in shops etc even though they are not mandatory. I think we all need to do what we can to help get through this.

Oh ffs - get a grip.

I was worried about the vaccine but no way was I not going to have it, as is keeping the country moving. It’s not an invasion of privacy - you have to show vaccinations when you go to certain countries.

However, on a side note, I would as a company be very cautious of making it mandatory as potential claims in distant future if any significant side effects. For NHS, care homes etc this is a risk worth taking but for other companies, I’m not sure?

I don't have a problem with this. It isn't sharing private medical information, just that you have had the vaccine. Countries even pre covid had this requirement. My extremely vulnerable colleague still cannot do anything normal, she won't be able to u til enough of the population are vaccinated to minimise the risk of covid.

@userg5647

The ICO have taken a very strange (and completely legally inaccurate) stance that just seeing your vaccine status doesn't class as processing, so unfortunately that means they're saying it's outside the scope of data protection legislation in this context so raising issues around not being happy with people outside of HR etc seeing it has no weight.

It wouldn't stand up in court but whose going to spend the time and money challenging that?

Unless someone is recording the info when the pass is presented (or isn't), then it's not processing - it's an instant decision on who's allowed in or not, no data is being transferred. Same as if a security guard is letting people into a shop or not based on if they have a mask on (or exemption), it's not collecting or using any customer data.

Just get over yourself - show the proof of vaccination and go into the office.

If you’re an anti-vaxxer then get over your idiocy and get vaccinated.

I wonder how long it will be till you have to show your flu vaccination card?

Maybe further on down the line there will be whole host of medical information you have to share with your employers just to enter the building.

because people are complainer enough to do it.

@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.

My right to go and infect my colleagues with covid? My right to take up an intensive care bed that could have gone to someone with an unavoidable illness?

We live in a society. Forget rights, let's talk responsibilities. If we want to benefit from being able to be close to other people, we have a moral responsibility to try our best not to make them sick.

compliant**

You aren’t being asked for private medical information just your vaccination record. Sounds like a sensible employer. What’s the problem?

we have proof of vaccination AND lateral flow test done maximum 24 hours before coming in (2 mandatory days per week). makes sense

It was weird reading through this thread- at about page 5 there were suddenly lots of ‘ do you want to live in an authoritarian state ? ‘ anti-vaxxer type posts entering the fray . Like a bat signal had gone out………

*This kind of policy doesn't make me feel safe.
it makes me feel like I'm living with Big Brother.

It reminds me that my medical information is no longer private*

No, it means that a teeny, tiny bit of your medical history is shared. It doesn't mean that the world and his wife will know you have haemhorroids, high cholesterol, ingrowing toenails and a boil on your bum, or anything else apart from your vaccine status.

I can't believe people are getting so exercised about an employer doing something to protect their staff.

Ffs,

Unvaccinated staff will be terminated on 1 Dec

This sounds about right for the Orwellian British government, @UpToMyElbowsInDiapers

I have not RTFT as I can't be bothered with a million posts pro/anti vax posts.

@Anothercovidthread, I think it's disgusting on the part of your workplace (and I say this as someone who has been doubly vaccinated). It is nobody's business but yours, and I can't believe that people are sleepwalking into a situation in which they hand over personal information "to keep us all safe". What are we going to be asked to do next in the name of Covid?

Colleagues could equally infect you with Covid despite being vaccinated. It’s not proof against contracting Covid or the increasingly many variants.

Surely

Your employer is so sensible! Love this.

@Anothercovidthread you’ve managed to turn a whole new company policy into something all about you. Are you generally selfish and self obsessed or this is a new personality trait? Maybe you shouldn’t be working with other people? You obviously don’t value them. Maybe you should look at other roles that are more suited to your personality type? Although I’m not sure who would want to employ someone so precious

I had to show my bcg scar before I could teach in a certain borough because TB was on the increase.

To answer your question.

Yes your employer can do this. The only exemption could be if you could show yoy cannot have the vaccine for medical reasons (or, more unlikely, religious reasons). Neither are the case here.

If you’re not happy with this then I suggest you get another job. It seems your employer’s covid risk assessment has shown it’s needed.

[quote PrancingQueen]@Namechangedforthethousandthtim we’re all still waiting for your sources.
Thanks 👍🏻[/quote]
@PrancingQueen

She's now Namechangedforthethousandandonethtime
There must be a good reason why she name changes so frequently though, any ideas?

@Evesgarden

I wonder how long it will be till you have to show your flu vaccination card?

Maybe further on down the line there will be whole host of medical information you have to share with your employers just to enter the building.

because people are complainer enough to do it.

Just because people don't share your drama on one thing doesn't mean they're suddenly compliant sheep.

I share loads of info where it's appropriate and sensible - letting police see my driving licence if I'm stopped, letting airport security x-ray my luggage with my underwear in, letting a security guard look in my handbag if the alarm (accidentally) goes off. Doesn't mean I'll be blankly agreeing to the Tesco security guard inspecting my driving licence or airport security reading my medical notes. One appropriate action doesn't lead down the rabbit hole to 'anything goes' - some of us are using our heads even if it's to do something you disagree with.

[quote DollyDinkle]It was proven, actually.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59077036[/quote]
It quite clearly says that the risk is reduced if everyone is vaccinated. Hence the op's company deciding to only allow vaccinated people on the premises. If anything that article supports the company's stance.

[quote Anothercovidthread]@burnto I really don't feel comfortable sharing the information. If it was a one off and the details could be added to my pass then I could maybe understand but to have to show the information 3 times a week to different people, I just don't see that its anyones business. If the vaccine was mandatory then fair enough but its not. In Scotland, care staff do not have to have it either, thats only England as far as I'm aware.[/quote]
You’re being an arse. You’re hardly showing them your entire medical records. Your choices are show the card if you are vaccinated, get vaccinated then show the card if you’re not, or find another job. Stop being belligerent and difficult.

Anyone who thinks that vaccines have no effects on spread, needs to look at this graph and explain the reason why 2 weeks after vaccines were given to 16 and 17yos that the 6th form numbers dropped dramatically.

No, it means that a teeny, tiny bit of your medical history is shared. It doesn't mean that the world and his wife will know you have haemhorroids, high cholesterol, ingrowing toenails and a boil on your bum, or anything else apart from your vaccine status.

I can't believe people are getting so exercised about an employer doing something to protect their staff.

Absolutely! 100%

Colleagues could equally infect you with Covid despite being vaccinated. It’s not proof against contracting Covid or the increasingly many variants.

It's proof that that company is trying it's best to avoid spreading covid amonst its employees. Yes, we know it is not 100% foolproof but it's the best mitigation we currently have.

Sounds fair enough, they aren't saying they will sack unvaccinated employees just that they can't come into the office. My dp has banned his two unvaccinated sales staff from visiting clients which means they have to share commission with the person who does visit, they are on paperwork and phone call duties from home - their choice, their financial hit!

They don’t want to see your medical records, just proof of vaccination.
Get the jabs or another job problem solved.