Threatened with losing my job

[Finallylostit]

Yesterday, I got a letter and a delightful email in my work email telling me I am going to lose my job unless I get vaccinated.

Yes I work for the NHS.

This is insulting and rude when those in power think to threaten people without getting their data /facts correct.

May 2020 - I received my first vaccine as part of the first vaccine trial in the world. By the end of June 2020 I had my second dose. In June 2021 - I had a new trial booster.

Problem is if you had your vaccine as part of the trials that helped move the world back to normal - then the systems do not recognise it as being had. The NHS app will give me a covid pass and says i have had it but it is not considered the real thing that everyone else got after being tried on people like me.

I have to email my proof to them to prove ~I have had it. 3 emails later and I have had to send in passport details, vaccine trial details, this detail that detail etc etc.

Today 'i got invited to a meeting with my manager to discuss the implications of my refusenik beliefs and to inform me that as of April 1st I will not be employed by the NHS. That said person could not see how frustrating it is for someone who has been vaccinated all along but systems do not recognise it and still asked me for proof - just pushed me over the edge today.

Whilst I appreciate this is adminstritative it really is insulting that they can not get this right. I and many of my NHS colleagues volunteered blindly into a trial not knowing what the hell would happen to help the world.

our thanks for helping move the world on - threatened with the sack. Thoroughly pissed off Vax volunteer.

I've had 1 operation and 1 follow up appointments in 2021 and 1 follow up procedure earlier this month and I've never been vaccinated. I told them this and they said come in anyway.
It makes no sense to me that whether or not you've had none 1, 2 or 3 vaccinations you can still pass it on and it COULD potentially kill you even if you've had 2 plus the booster.

Good for you for taking part in the vaccine trials, people like you are honestly heroes.

This sounds incredibly frustrating. I work for the Irish health service, so our version of the NHS and illogical and out of touch decision making from management and administration sounds very familiar. I know many wonderful and skilled frontline staff that have left because of it.

Hope you get it sorted with a Huge apology. Thank you very much for taking part in the trial, without those like you we wouldn’t be where we are today 💐

Were you told the trial would not be considered a third dose? This is critically important. If so then you cant lose your job, if not then my angle would be asking why you are being singled out for a significant reduction in the right to make a living on the basis you have volunteered to trial a vaccine for the greater good. Its implications were not explained to you. Why should you take more doses with no research into multiple dose safety?. If they push on with their plan I would get a constructive dismissal case together. Ask for everything in writimg and get an employmebt law solicitor involved.

So sorry OP that’s awful. Thank you for taking part in the trial and hopefully that will be recognised soon 🤞🏻

That is shocking, you need to bring this up with your manager. And thank you very much for standing up and doing that and helping get the world back to normal. That is appreciated.

Why the furores about an admin error? These things happen. I am surprised that there are so many workers in theNHS who have not had any vaccinations. We have obeyed the rules to get vaccinated and it is extremely Selfish not to be vaccinated. IFYOU become Ill with COVID will you non vaccinated refuse drugs given to treat you. I consider it a civic duty to get vaccinated to protect others.

Do you have a Union and are you in it? I would go to them and the press in regards to this. It's so crazy to threaten you with the sack because they can't get their admin right.
As the old saying goes : no good deed goes unpunished.
Thank you so being one of the first volunteers for a vaccine against this harmful virus 🌻

Totally sums up the NHS bureaucracy! I’m so sorry this has happened to you. For god sake if it wasn’t for you guys we wouldn’t have a friggin vaccine ! Err employment tribunal ?!!

Oh ffs that’s why I hate this stupid country. People don’t use their fucking brains. If computer says no then it’s no. So dumb and unnecessary. What a waste of time and energy and emotions OP. Hope you’re sorted.

But a booster in June will have worn off now. You need an up to date one otherwise it's not actually working as a vaccine. Have you refused a new booster?

@Fairyliz

I expect all of the admin team are wfh. It’s the usual excuse you get from any organisation when they cock things up.

As above 100%.

Local authority trotted this line out this to me when they had failed to sort things out for transport of child with SEND to his school (they had had several months to organise a taxi from a to b, not rocket science).

I was like - what? I mean, can you not do this job without your favourite stapler in the top drawer at your workplace office? Really?

Anyway, OP thanks for your sterling work in these difficult times. And for road testing vaccine. It means a lot to many of us and I hope you get an apology for the way you are being treated.

I am baffled as to why the government is going ahead with this when they plan to stop self isolation by March. If you test positive (why bother testing if you don't self isolate) you don't self isolate, you behave like you have a cold and carry on. So why are we forcing people to have vaccinations or lose their jobs. Maybe I'm being thick but I don't get it.

Why don’t you just write it all down in a letter, scan all your proof make copies and send it to your manager, HR, NHS senior management and whoever else you think needs to see it. Make your feelings known. I would offer to have another jab (if needed) and let them know that you have not refused to have the vaccine at all, that their information is wrong. I understand this must be frustrating, but this is just admin, it’s not personal, the NHS is a huge organisation and these letters are probably standard and being generated automatically if boxes are not ticked somewhere.

Write to your MP, Health Secretary , newspaper, tv about this.

As I stated previously as long as you have records stating you were part of a vaccine trial you are exempt from the rule anyway:

Exemption from COVID-19 vaccination due to participation in clinical trial.
In line with clinical advice, those who are taking part or have previously taken part in a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine will be exempt from the requirement.
The registered provider will need to evidence that workers are exempt from having the completed course of an approved COVID-19 vaccination due to participation in a clinical trial.
The worker should provide the registered persons with confirmation in writing, from the organiser of the clinical trial, evidencing that the clinical trial they are participating in / has participated in is:
• For a vaccine against coronavirus; and
• Is regulated by one of the regulatory bodies included in annex B of the code of
practice included in the ‘Making vaccination a condition of deployment in health and wider social care sector. Government response to public consultation’ document
At present, the regulations do not require evidence of boosters, but employers are strongly advised to provide supportive advice to workers to encourage uptake of the booster vaccine if eligible.

What a PITA. I'd feel the same as you OP. My sympathies.

This is awful! I’d be wondering if I wanted to stay in an organisation like this to be honest. If you get dismissed you wouldn’t have a court in in the land that wouldn’t put you right OP.

for you for being so brave and selfless in the first place.

@Theballoonsinthesky

Why are people not up in arms that in 2 weeks time 90k NHS staff will be served notice? They've worked the deadliest part of the pandemic with no protection and as we are coming out of the pandemic they will lose their jobs for standing up for body autonomy? The virus is being passed on by vaccinated people just as much as unvaccinated and to let this happen is crazy. I work for the NHS and have had 3 vaccines but I just can't believe we have come to this. I could understand if it was impossible to pass the virus on if you're vaccinated but like I said the transmission rate between fully vaxxed is off the charts so how is a dr any more of a risk to a patient if they're not vaccinated? People should get the vaccine to protect themselves not others as it doesn't work for that.

Yes it does seem a very odd way to express gratitude to those who took the risks whilst so many stayed home.

You are right to be absolutely fuming they should have processed the vaccination status and the nuances of this before sending out nasty threatening letters about losing your job . Surely they need to get the status part absolutely correct before throwing out threats of job loss to you . It’s a disgusting way to be treated and beyond an admin error. It’s lazy bullying tactics of lumping everyone into a non vaxxed status as being anti Vax when the situation deserves to be looked at in more detail before sending out the words lose your job when you have worked without the adequate protections previously and been in the front line of exposure. I would say I was taken aback but then I think of the pay scale for what is such heroic work compared to the rest of the workforce and I realise our society is skewed in it’s priorities which is why the NHS was always under immense strain in the first place. They have thrown our heroes under the bus as far as I am concerned.

Member of a union? No? Maybe you should be for situations like this. Just sayin'

@NichyNoo

Whilst it’s extremely frustrating, I would imagine that your three doses are no longer effective as you had them so long ago. So probably best to just start the course again.

Oh for goodness sake, you don't get more than three doses (unless you get four because of health reasons). Why do people keep saying this? It is not helpful, stop it.

I expect all of the admin team are wfh. It’s the usual excuse you get from any organisation when they cock things up

I don't think the location of the person matters. Idiot at home, idiot at office.

@BabyDereksToes

But a booster in June will have worn off now. You need an up to date one otherwise it's not actually working as a vaccine. Have you refused a new booster?

AAAAGAGGGGGAHHHHHHHHHHH.

Have you seen the news? The government are considering delaying the vaccine for nhs workers.