Not allowed to do my sales job until fully vaccinated

[VioletUltraViolet]

I delayed getting my vaccination due to a genuine fear of vaccines and having already gotten Covid antibodies from having the virus. I have decided to get the vaccine now because I just want this crap over and done with and I accept my role in getting society back to a level of normality.

I am booked for my first dose today at 14:30 and second dose is booked for 9th feb 2022.

I am an estate agent. My work sent a group message to say that any unvaccinated staff can not conduct any face to face appointments until they are fully vaccinated. This means no opportunity to earn commission by listing properties or selling houses, so my salary will essentially drop from roughly 43k to 24k. This is because I earn so much from doing the appointments and 24k is my basic. I have a daughter to support and I know everyone is going to say it’s my fault for delaying my vaccination but I just can’t believe this forced vaccination is spilling out in to non medical non clinical work.

For context, I booked my vaccine last week before I knew about the work changes.

What’re people’s thoughts on this kind of approach? My vaccinated colleagues are shocked by this too.

I can see their point and they aren't stopping you working but still. It doesn't sit right that you are being given different terms of employment based on your health. Thin end of the wedge and all that.

The OP would be meeting various strangers all in enclosed spaces, surely this is as much about protecting her as it is protecting clients.

You mean like the carpet fitters and mobile hairdressers and cleaners and anyone else who works with people inside homes?

If it was about protecting their workforce then surely policies of 100% fully open windows and doors, medical grade masks, hand sanitizer on entering, a pre-filled declaration that you have no symptoms or contacts (like at the dentists) would be their first action?

That's what a company who cares about the safety / health / wellbeing of their staff does. Vaccines are clearly effective at preventing serious illness but their ability to prevent transmission begins to wane within a month. As many pps on here say, anyone who thinks about it logically should feel much safer in enclosed spaces with an unvaccinated tested person than a vaccinated person who has no requirement to test. You only need to look at the results of the Scottish Vax Passport scheme to see this in action.

Speak to your union or if you have legal cover with your home insurance then try them.

I’d fight this on the lack of notice rather than the underlying principle. They cannot impose a requirement immediately which takes time for people to meet.

I’m sure you understand that everyone else has the freedom to make their own decisions just as you have done.

Clients who have a genuine fear of Covid will choose to do business with a covid safe company and deal face to face with vaccinated staff.

Companies with a genuine fear of losing their market share / losing profit / going out of business will decisions to protect their company and other staff.

Colleagues with a genuine fear of Covid and possibly getting ill/ dying will exercise their own freedom of choice and choose to work for covid safe companies who prioritise the safety of staff and clients.

Everyone is just exercising their own freedoms and choices out of feelings and beliefs that are just as valid and genuine as yours.

I’m sorry if that’s inconvenient to you. The same as no doubt you would be sorry if you gave me Covid and I died . I’m sure you’d be genuinely sorry for the inconvenience to my three children to whom I’m a single parent.

But your genuine feelings won’t bring up my kids. They won’t keep a roof over their heads and pay for their education.

So I’m glad you are getting your vaccine and I commend your employer for putting staff and client safety over other peoples feeling, however genuine they are.

I think if they want to implement this, they should give you enough notice to get fully vaccinated surely?

I used a service recently that involved three people coming to my home for several hours. I’m double-vaccinated but have a health condition and am waiting on my booster, so being very cautious. When booking, I told the sales person that I only wanted vaccinated people, and they had to wear masks. It was written into the contract.

I’d do the same if I was engaging an estate agent or going to house viewings.

Obviously this is wrong. Same as it was wrong for carers and nhs staff but at least they got warning. If people are happy to test rather than vaccines that should be enough.

Your date may be pushed back as well if they decide actually you need the booster as well.

@Double3xposure

I’m sure you understand that everyone else has the freedom to make their own decisions just as you have done.

Clients who have a genuine fear of Covid will choose to do business with a covid safe company and deal face to face with vaccinated staff.

Companies with a genuine fear of losing their market share / losing profit / going out of business will decisions to protect their company and other staff.

Colleagues with a genuine fear of Covid and possibly getting ill/ dying will exercise their own freedom of choice and choose to work for covid safe companies who prioritise the safety of staff and clients.

Everyone is just exercising their own freedoms and choices out of feelings and beliefs that are just as valid and genuine as yours.

I’m sorry if that’s inconvenient to you. The same as no doubt you would be sorry if you gave me Covid and I died . I’m sure you’d be genuinely sorry for the inconvenience to my three children to whom I’m a single parent.

But your genuine feelings won’t bring up my kids. They won’t keep a roof over their heads and pay for their education.

So I’m glad you are getting your vaccine and I commend your employer for putting staff and client safety over other peoples feeling, however genuine they are.

But do you not think op should have been given notice of this requirement, in the same way that NHS staff and care home staff have been?

I am shocked by the short notice of this, however did you have a plan in place if you became very ill with Covid and had to be off sick for a month or two as this would have surely affected your salary in the same way?

Let us know the name of the agent so we can all give them business. Very sensible.employer.

Sorry with your employer. As someone selling my house currently, we asked that staff entering our home is vaccinated and lft, all buyers are masked no exceptions. We have now sold

Being off sick with Covid for a week or two would not affect my salary in the same way as a number of months would - the two are not comparable.

I have already had Covid and have antibodies. I appreciate I could catch it again and need to isolate but in that instance it’s short lived compared to this.

I would’ve been happier with the option of being able to test daily in between all my does until I’m fully vaccinated and of course I would not go to any homes if the client has said they are vulnerable or just want a vaccinated person conducting the appointments.

To ban me immediately from all of them just feels so extreme.

I generally think everyone should get vaccinated unless there is a specific medical reason not to... however in this case I do think they should have given enough notice about the change so that anyone who isn't yet vaccinated would have time to do it.

As there is such a drive to get everyone in the country vaccinated, I think you might be able to get your 2nd jab earlier than 8 weeks though - walking centres were doing this in the summer. The vaccine manufacturer recommend a 21 or 28 days gap, the 8 weeks was only done so that as many people as possible could get vaccinated quicker.

I would argue the toss as you are as flly vaccinated as you can be at the moment - there is no point you having jab 2 till the elapsed time has passed, same for the booster. You are as protected as you can be and they are not understanding the vaccination system by saying you need to have had them all. The second and booster jabs are to boost your immunity once it has lessened off after the first jab and make sure your body can maintain immunity over time. Not everyone has been able to be vaccinated immediately so timeframes are different for different people.

SO I would get some clarity onthis for the, then as you have done what you can and medically you cant be any more vaccinated than you are they need to make up the difference in your pay as a reult of not allowing you to do your job in full.

I just rang ACAS. They said that because I have been employed by this firm for under two years they are able to dismiss me immediately so I should be careful about what I do. They advised me to try and solve this internally with my employer but they have made their stance very clear.

I just didn’t see this coming since so many other firms are customer facing and none of our competitors have mentioned doing this!

I think you were naive and ignorant when you said 'i couldn't have predicted it'

There have been rumblings over covid vaccine passports since May. There has been an actual mandate in social care settings. Across the world there has been moves to make it difficult for unvaccinated people in the workplace in order to try and encourage uptake.

I personally am uncomfortable with this, but it was definitely something which you should have taken a lot more seriously, a lot sooner rather than being surprised at it.

Its also looking highly likely that fully vaccinated will be 3 doses by mid to late January now. There are multiple news reports on it, this week.

You are going to have to find a way to cope with / deal with / challenge I'm afraid.

Ps my Dp's staff (Germany) have until 1st feb to be fully vaccinated or they will be put on unpaid leave, this is legal there because they cannot go into work or see customers

@VioletUltraViolet please go onto the website power to the people and they have genuine legal templates stating why you wish to wait until you want to be vaccinated.
It has worked for many people I know.
Hope this helps.
Don't feel bullied into getting the vaccine if it makes you feel uncomfortable.
It doesn't stop the spread. It just protects the individual who's had the vaccine. So IMO it's completely your choice whether you want it or not. And if you don't people need to remember the Nuremberg code and respect your decision.
Hope this helps.

I think it’s unfair that it’s with immediate effect but understand why they want staff to be vaccinated.

I’m a nurse, we have until February and some colleagues are only just getting them now (some aren’t getting the vaccine at all so will be leaving).

Absolutely disgusting. You should have been pre warned well in advance.

I'd definitely seek legal advice.

How long have you been there?

@Helpstopthepain

I think it’s unfair that it’s with immediate effect but understand why they want staff to be vaccinated.

I’m a nurse, we have until February and some colleagues are only just getting them now (some aren’t getting the vaccine at all so will be leaving).

Have you noticed a huge difference in the amount of covid patients in hospital?

Sorry to derail op.

I’m all for it. I’m with your employer. You chose to wait and delay it. The world needs to toughen up and take the vaccination so we can move on. I’m sick of peoples excuses now.

I'm quite shocked that you think it was ok to continually go into clients houses unvaccinated
Your company sounds like it's a good responsible one