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

[MrsFCastle]

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.

They absolutely should cancel all his shifts. Funny how the researchers and scientists think it’s safe but your bloke knows better and it is ‘too soon’. Come on. He’s endangering people’s lives.

@UserEleventyNine

It’s not an awful lot different from somebody who refuses a vaccine and then goes and sits next to someone in the cinema for 3 hours, or on a 6 hour train journey and infects somebody vulnerable.

If people don't want to take the risk of sitting next to an unvaccinated person on a train or in a cinema, they can choose not to travel on a train or go to a cinema. Residents in care homes don't have that choice.

As several pp have said, in some healthcare roles certain vaccinations are already required. Why shouldn't the covid vaccination be added to the list of required vaccinations?

Whether they are actually mandatory is not known because there’s no case law, If you look at NHS policies they’re not mandatory. Some people don’t respond to vaccines anyway so presumably you’d also have to sack everyone who is a non responder to hep B. Many people need to rely on public transport it’s not exactly a choice. I understand people saying we should have vaccine passports and restrictions to protect others, what I don’t understand is why people think it’s ok for other occupations and the general public, residents themselves and their visitors to go about infecting vulnerable people but it’s somehow different for carers. Surely we all have the responsibility to protect others

We had a work meeting about this topic today. Unless there’s a solid and proven medical reason for refusing the vaccine, we’re going to insist that staff have the vaccine if they wish to continue their roles. We have clients and staff who we have a duty of care towards.

I’ve heard a few employees say they don’t want the vaccine...until someone asks what they’ll do if they can’t go on holiday or into a restaurant etc. Then the anti-vax crew seem to change their mind and state that they’ll have the jab 😂

People in third world countries are literally "dying" while waiting for a vaccine and he thinks it is too soon???

Then the anti-vax crew seem to change their mind and state that they’ll have the jab

Thing is, until now there no major consequences to the individual in being anti vax, because they were protected from stuff via herd immunity.

That’s about to change.

@LochNessSwim

We had a work meeting about this topic today. Unless there’s a solid and proven medical reason for refusing the vaccine, we’re going to insist that staff have the vaccine if they wish to continue their roles. We have clients and staff who we have a duty of care towards.

I’ve heard a few employees say they don’t want the vaccine...until someone asks what they’ll do if they can’t go on holiday or into a restaurant etc. Then the anti-vax crew seem to change their mind and state that they’ll have the jab 😂

Out of interest what will be your stance on clients who refuse the vaccine? (It’s not a leading question, I’m just interested as I think it also presents quite an issue)

@BungleandGeorge it will be for the employee to decide if they want a face to face meeting with the client. We’ve proven over the past 11 months that the business provided directly to clients (professional advice) works really well via Zoom.

I read this and I think if MNers represent the majority of the world, we really are doomed...

Its a health and safety position. When I trained to become.e a nurse before I started my course I had to have the hep B vaccine...declining was not an option..the job comes with risks. Covid will be as much a risk to him as he is as a transmission risk. The employer can be sued by HSE for employees who die from work related risks too so employers are likely to take a tough stance on this

[quote LochNessSwim]@BungleandGeorge it will be for the employee to decide if they want a face to face meeting with the client. We’ve proven over the past 11 months that the business provided directly to clients (professional advice) works really well via Zoom.[/quote]
Thank you, I was also thinking of the risk they would present to other clients, but it sounds like you see them individually

Redcurrant puff
It's not the pandemic that's "trashing societies & economies", it's the lockdown.

SilverGlitterBaubles
.. and I totally respect your decision to have it

Tell him to contact citizens advice bureau. I think they can send a letter of warning to his employer if they are discriminating against him

An interesting idea ... if the employer is inclined to get rid of vaccine refusers, slinging around unfounded claims of discrimination could be just the push they need

Wow. Just reading a number of these messages and the lack of compassion for individual liberty is extremely disappointing. The gov have cleverly empowered businesses to do their dirty work with their words that a business can bring in their own rules. Then they’ll sit back and watch how the courts will rule, at your cost!

When in the history of this country has a vaccine/no vaccine ever impacted employment and family private life.

This isn’t the first epidemic or pandemic and won’t the be last.

How does millions choosing not to take the vaccine impact those that have ‘chosen’ to take it, who are now supposedly protected.

Vac/non Vac... have your opinion and stop judging the decisions of others. Do what makes YOU feel is best.

As far as employers are concerned pushing this political driven agenda, I can’t see the courts ruling in your favour for so many legal reasons too vast to go into here. It is not your place to interfere with personal freedoms.

Why can’t we all agree to disagree and respect the others position. You will not bend the will of a non vaxer with this mob mentality.

Rant over... sorry

@CantstopsayingFFS

I read this and I think if MNers represent the majority of the world, we really are doomed...

Yep. Losing hope for the future reading these threads.

@LochNessSwim

We had a work meeting about this topic today. Unless there’s a solid and proven medical reason for refusing the vaccine, we’re going to insist that staff have the vaccine if they wish to continue their roles. We have clients and staff who we have a duty of care towards.

I’ve heard a few employees say they don’t want the vaccine...until someone asks what they’ll do if they can’t go on holiday or into a restaurant etc. Then the anti-vax crew seem to change their mind and state that they’ll have the jab 😂

You clearly underestimate the intelligence of those unwilling to try out the new vaccine and vastly overestimate your own.

@dividedwefall what worries do you have about the vaccine?

Well said!

[quote underneaththeash]@dividedwefall what worries do you have about the vaccine?[/quote]
Why? Are you planning to re-educate me?

lochness that reminds me of staff who couldn't possibly do online training, but managed to shop, use facebook and book holidays. online.

When in the history of this country has a vaccine/no vaccine ever impacted employment

Have you read the posts above from health care workers who have said it's a requirement for them to have certain vaccines in their jobs?

When in the history of this country has a vaccine/no vaccine ever impacted employment

You need to read the thread.
There are plenty of examples of this in healthcare which OP's husband works in.

I used to work in forensics and had to have both Hep A and Hep B as part of the job. No jab then no job - and this was over 20 years ago.

I'm a dentist. My staff need to have hep B vaccine, rubella and TB vaccines before they can work. They need blood tests to check heat it's/HIV status as well. No questions, everyone responsible and happy to comply.
We don't make the rules. It's a health board/occupational requirement and for their own good, to ensure protection.
My feeling about the Covid vaccine. Most staff couldn't roll their sleeve up fast enough. All very grateful for this. Everyone has received it apart from one team member who is pregnant just now, so holding off.
I won't pressure anyone, it's their decision, but I will advise new team members that it is in their best interest.
In general I think it's only the occasional rogue that will refuse, and that's ok. I don't think the vaccine will be mandatory at present, or any time soon, as despite no safety and efficacy concerns, and generally a great uptake, I imagine a decision to enforce would take a good while to go through the red tape. There would need to be a consultation process. Perhaps if the successful vaccine program manages to reduce Covid to a lesser serious concern, it will become recommended, like the annual flue jag, but not enforced.

Its against your human rights.

@honeybee88

Its against your human rights.

What is?