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Original poster

Employer disadvantaging and threatening staff who haven’t had the vaccine

661 replies

MrsFCastle · 23/02/2021 17:19

My partner works in health and social care. He isn’t an anti vaxxer. Just feels it’s too soon. His employer is furious and is threatening to stop offering shifts if they don’t get it. I’m genuinely concerned about his job security. Can they do this? Helpful replies only please. This isn’t a thread about anti/pro vax.

OP posts:
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Vivana · 23/02/2021 23:27

And teachers please stop. Comparing yourself to carers. Carers are far more at risk according to statistics and when I had to care for residents with covid the ppe was useless and no way protecting us. I was around covid residents for 12 hours a day and yes I did catch it and was very ill.

animalfarmagain · 23/02/2021 23:31

Flowers Vivana, your care residents sound lucky to have had you.

animalfarmagain · 23/02/2021 23:35

Some care home managers treat their employees like shit, that is certainly another issue. Mind you, some care home managers are also under a lot of pressure (including, I imagine, with pressure from above) to 'have' to get their teams all vaccinated (even though they shouldn't be putting pressure on). Care home staff get paid and treated so badly. It's criminal. And yet care homes cost so much for paying residents. Agh, it's too upsetting. The care system for elders is shit in the UK.

ellyeth · 23/02/2021 23:37

I'm all for regular testing but to force people to have vaccines is, I believe, quite wrong. For those who say people are not being forced to have a vaccine, this is I think disingenuous. If people are told they will lose their jobs and/or will have very limited access to services and amenities, that is an offer that most people cannot refuse.

Downthefarm · 23/02/2021 23:52

@AdriannaP

17m people had a vaccine and “it’s too soon” for him? Seriously he needs to get a grip or work somewhere without people contact. It’s a global pandemic!!
This.
clpsmum · 24/02/2021 00:03

Agree with employer tbh. If people aren't willing to be vaccinated and protect other more vulnerable people then they need to face the consequences

Mammyloveswine · 24/02/2021 00:18

@Vivana

And teachers please stop. Comparing yourself to carers. Carers are far more at risk according to statistics and when I had to care for residents with covid the ppe was useless and no way protecting us. I was around covid residents for 12 hours a day and yes I did catch it and was very ill.
Not comparing ourselves to care workers, however covid spread through my school before Christmas and lots of staff are still off. Schools closed as children were described as "vectors of transmission".

I've been working throughout and without the vaccine when all pupils in my class return with no ppe/social distancing id be over the moon if I'd could have the vaccine. As would all of my colleagues.

I think that's a fair enough opinion. I don't we should have the vaccine above HCPs at all but we should be a priority! But we shall see transmission rates when schools reopen to all pupils..

animalfarmagain · 24/02/2021 00:19

@clpsmum

Agree with employer tbh. If people aren't willing to be vaccinated and protect other more vulnerable people then they need to face the consequences
The vulnerable people will have been vaccinated.

There will be no consequences.

An employer is unlikely to mandate vaccinations.

animalfarmagain · 24/02/2021 00:23

@truthisalie

Maybe we need a new term. Twats?

If you're happy to be called like that then fine. Be a twat.

Grin
animalfarmagain · 24/02/2021 00:25

@RampantIvy

I can envisage families of vulnerable people insisting that the care givers are vaccinated.
But why, when the vulnerable people will have been vaccinated?
Bluntness100 · 24/02/2021 06:28

An employer is unlikely to mandate vaccinations

Why do you keep writing this false information. I know you said you don’t look at the news etc, but you’ve already been told it’s happening now. Pimlico plumber being a noted one on this article, in addition there are many many others, the ops husbands employer looking to be another. It may be legal they need to look at it on a case by case basis.

And as the op said her husband won’t be offered any more shifts, it doesn’t look like he’s on a standard contract, more a zero hours one. In addition, if an employer wants you out, then you’re out for it, they can come up with any excuse. Particularly if less than two years. Yes you can go down the legal route if fired for it, but that’s going to be about the employment contract and what reason they use.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56113366

Purplerayhan · 24/02/2021 07:14

Why wouldn't an employee want a vaccinated individual rather than an unvaccinated one when everyone has had the chance?

Porridgeoat · 24/02/2021 07:20

There is nothing in his contract about this so vaccinations can’t be enforced. There is no uk regulation to say that staff must have vaccinations. By law the employee must be given appropriate PPE. Covid testing weekly is what he needs.

Jangle33 · 24/02/2021 07:20

All over the news this morning that employers are and likely legally (which I agree with) can do this.

Good on them! We need to get out of this mess and protect our country.

Porridgeoat · 24/02/2021 07:22

Management can advise staff to have the vaccination but that’s it, legally they have no capability to enforce

Jangle33 · 24/02/2021 07:28

@PorridgeoatThey can absolutely refuse to let them work for health and safety reasons! especially in a care setting.

whatswithtodaytoday · 24/02/2021 07:38

If he feels it's 'too soon', when will he decide it's safe? What research is he basing this decision on?

Those saying 'you can't have an opinion about vaccines now' - you can say whatever you like. But you have to accept that many people will disagree and think you're stupid.

Lemonsyellow · 24/02/2021 07:57

If he is refusing to take care of his health or improve a situation that is negatively affecting his job, he would be like any other employee who cannot or is unable to do the job. A friend of mine had to prove she had had several vaccinations just to sign up for a university course in social work.

Bluntness100 · 24/02/2021 08:03

@Jangle33

All over the news this morning that employers are and likely legally (which I agree with) can do this.

Good on them! We need to get out of this mess and protect our country.

Yes it was yesterday too. The question on legality though is much more complex. Likely for new jobs yes, it can be mandated, but it’s much more complex if existing staff, and different lawyers have different opinions, which is why the government has launched a study into it.

But as said, that’s not going to be quick and a lot of folks will lose their jobs before it’s landed.

Nith · 24/02/2021 08:08

Legal advice is likely to be costly and we don’t have money to burn

And the vaccine is free. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Nith · 24/02/2021 08:10

@Porridgeoat

There is nothing in his contract about this so vaccinations can’t be enforced. There is no uk regulation to say that staff must have vaccinations. By law the employee must be given appropriate PPE. Covid testing weekly is what he needs.
How do you know what is in OP's partner's contract?
RedcurrantPuff · 24/02/2021 08:15

An employer is unlikely to mandate vaccinations.

And yet I have heard of at l least one large care group that is.

I always think it’s funny as well when people ask “can they do this?” About their employer’s actions. Employers can basically do what they like. Even if it’s unlawful that doesn’t really help the employee that much in the short term, given the length of time they are likely to wait for an ET hearing date these days.

Abraxan · 24/02/2021 08:21

@truthisalie

anti vaxxers is just a gaslighting term. People who are against this vaccine aren't against other vaccines so they can't be called anti vaxxers.
Very few, if any, if the people I know of who are refusing this vaccine have limited, or no, scientific knowledge about vaccinations and how they are developed and work. They just think they know more from reading stuff from some bloke off the internet, in my experience.

I get my first vaccine this afternoon and can't wait. I trust the scientists and experts more than 'Jack' on Facebook.

TheKeatingFive · 24/02/2021 08:25

The vulnerable people will have been vaccinated.

Not the ones who can’t for medical reasons.

They’re reliant on all the people around them being vaccinated. Otherwise they have no protection.

Abraxan · 24/02/2021 08:29

*The vulnerable people will have been vaccinated.
*

At present not all vulnerable groups have been vaccinated, let alone had 3 weeks after their first jab.

My surgery is still working in group 5. I've been number up group 6 and am having a 'last minute' appointment so feel quite lucky to get mine today. A week ago I was told it would be a few more weeks.

In a number of places surgeries haven't started beyond groups 1-4 yet so have a lot of people to go before groups 5-9 are done.

Not all vulnerable people can have the vaccine due to their medical conditions. This is always the case and often why the general population is offered vaccinations - it gives wider protection for all. This will include some residents in care homes.