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.

[PaddingtonsSister]

Thank fully it does seem employers can do this Excellent news for the safety of their customers really. Bad news for selfish workers who want to risk others welfare by not vaxing though

[Dullardmullard]

You know even if you get the vaccine you can still catch or infect others with Covid. It isn’t a magical cure all.

[Airyfairymarybeary]

Does he have a problem with authority?

[Jackie2022]

I don’t know how I feel about this. I think it’s unfair as a young/heathy person that will be the last to get invited for a vaccine - what would his manager expect I do to speed up the process? It’s too early to implement such measures imo

[pointythings]

@Dullardmullard

You know even if you get the vaccine you can still catch or infect others with Covid. It isn’t a magical cure all.

Evidence currently emerging shows that the vaccines not only reduce severity of illness if you do catch COVID, but also reduce transmission by a very significant margin indeed. Not a magical cure all, but a responsible precaution to take if you are patient facing.

[SinisterBumFacedCat]

Does he work with vulnerable people? Does he work in health or care? A few posters have asked this already?

[Purplerayhan]

Why wouldn't you want to mitigate it though if you worked in a field with vulnerable people? It won't be long before people like OPs OH get sued if a client is infected - I know if be considering it if it happened to my family. Have it, don't have it but if you don't have it fuck off into a different job.

[Jackie2022]

Actually if he’s has been offered the vaccine already due to his job, then I see his employer’s point

[Purplerayhan]

Oh for an island to put all the anti vaxxers on together

[Eaumyword]

@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!!

Sorry, but this.
It has to be something like 100 million+ worldwide doses administrated by now, using a vaccine that has had trials and approval.
With regard to employment contracts, usually the employer reserves the right to change existing T&C's to suit the needs of the business (so possibly in this situation customer refusal to choose a care home on the basis of lack of providing 'appropriate protection'.)
In time, public liability insurance costs in health care settings could well be dependent on vaccinations done on all staff other than those who can't have it for genuine medical reasons.

[minchinfin]

Glad to see social care setting, caring for the most vulnerable in society, are taking a headline against this kind of extreme selfishness.

[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.

[animalfarmagain]

He should speak to a lawyer - there is legal advice for this issue.

[FourTeaFallOut]

@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.

Muppet works.

[Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow]

I feel very sorry for healthcare workers in this predicament. And I know a few. They aren’t rabid anti-vaxxers but do want to see greater and longer term data.

People have short memories and the swine flu vaccine devastated some people’s lives.

[Purplerayhan]

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
Fair point
Maybe we need a new term.
Twats?

[WombatChocolate]

Has he said how long he want to wait or is it an open-ended thing?

Is he considering whether this is the right industry for him and he might be better to look for a different job?

Has he had other vaccines?

I’m trying to gauge if he essentially is cautious and hesitant and likely to go for it in a couple of weeks, or likely to remain unvaccinated in another couple of years? If the latter is the case, it doesn’t matter if he’s generally an anti vaxxer or not, for all intents and purposes in the workplace the consequences for his colleagues and the patients is the same.

[endlesssnow]

It is my understanding can't join a union to manage an employment issue once you have the issue, ( although I would stand to be corrected on that)

It is also the case that many healthcare and social work jobs have required evidence of vaccination for a number of illnesses like TB.
Although this is an condition of accepting the employment not something retrospective.
It doesn't sound like your DH has really thought this through.

[Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow]

Well presumably his clients and colleagues will all have been vaccinated

We have never compelled healthcare workers to get the flu vaccine

[Covidcorvid]

There was something in the paper about this....that anyone who’s nmc registered could potentially be against The Code....prioritising safety, etc if they don’t have the jab. Insinuation was very much that such staff would have to get vaccinated or leave. I assume health reasons for not having it excepted.

[Covidcorvid]

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

Well presumably his clients and colleagues will all have been vaccinated

We have never compelled healthcare workers to get the flu vaccine

Good point about not being compelled to have the flu vaccine. But a lot of health care workers depending on their role are compelled to have a hepatitis inoculation.

[nancy75]

The it’s too soon argument pisses me off above all else.
We’d all like the comfort of a vaccine that’s been around for years but we don’t, that’s not available.
Most of us are willing to have this jab to protect ourselves our families and to get the country back to normal - the it’s too sooners are happy to benefit from the freedom the vax will give us but don’t want to do their bit.
If it’s too soon to have the vaccination then it’s too soon for him to leave the house.

[truthisalie]

Maybe we need a new term. Twats?

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

[endlesssnow]

For various healthcare and even social work jobs I have had hep jabs and TB.
It isn't unusual at all.

[RedcurrantPuff]

Quite right, if he’a genuinely that worried about his job he should just get the vaccine.

“Too soon”. 🙄 I guess he’s not very intelligent OP if he thinks we have the time for people to dither around to decide whether to take it or not, especially in environments like care.