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.

In your position, I would consider the following...

1. speak to an employment lawyer
2. get an antibodies test - someone can visit you at home. It’s pretty fast
3. negotiate with your employer

I have already moved to using services that are vaccinated. However unfair people may find it. Don't really care. It doesn't eliminate the risk but does reduce it, especially in a small home.

Sounds like a PR stunt for the company to put on their marketing literature. Please take legal advice. Personally I'd look for another job.

I would seek legal advice as it sounds like a breach of contract to me.

I disagree with the majority of mumsnet who love to tell you how stupid you are not getting jabbed. I think that's awful OP and shame on your employer. Nobody should be mandated to get a vaccine. Ever.

@Comefromaway I’m neither a doctor nor a scientist but I think an anti-vaxxer is more likely to spread COVID around an office than someone who is vaccinated?

These 'PR stunts' are common in many countries. In dental offices, in opthalmologists, in beauty salons, in hair salons, in Ubers. It is coming to the UK.

If they are making all their staff be vaccinated, are their staff allowed to ask the vaccination status of their customers before meeting with them, or to refuse to meet with unvaccinated customers? Or will they refuse to take on unvaccinated customers?

I'm guessing the answer is NO.

@HermioneWeasley

I would seek legal advice as it sounds like a breach of contract to me.

Unfortunately breach of contract does not apply as OP has worked there less than 2 years.

I agree with being vaccinated but they should give more notice like in the nhs

[quote Coffeepot72]@Comefromaway I’m neither a doctor nor a scientist but I think an anti-vaxxer is more likely to spread COVID around an office than someone who is vaccinated?[/quote]
Not really.

An anti masker/covid denier is but not someone who is anti vaccination due to not trusting the vaccine etc

@ElftonWednesday

If they are making all their staff be vaccinated, are their staff allowed to ask the vaccination status of their customers before meeting with them, or to refuse to meet with unvaccinated customers? Or will they refuse to take on unvaccinated customers?

I'm guessing the answer is NO.

No. Because unvaxxed customers can go elsewhere and it is a tough economy. Unfair. But this is how it is playing out in other countries.

@Double3xposure I work in the uk. I wear a mask.
My company have not discussed Covid questionnaires or any form of screening whatsoever since I began working here in May. Other agents I know have not been doing this either for a long while.
Sanitising is just part of our culture now. No pre screening questions at all, nor have I received questions from clients either. Are you an estate agent?

I’m surprised that this is possible to mandate but overall it’s better you get vaccinated when you are dealing with different groups of people indoors regularly.

So I’d be annoyed you had to do it but also glad you had made the decision and booked in first.

As you can prove you have your appointments booked maybe you can as them to make an exception for you like doing showings as long as the clients are happy/not clinically vulnerable?

I think it’s a tough one because you are essentially going into peoples houses in a similar way to a carer but with less physical contact.

They wouldn’t be able to cut bonuses for staff who were unable to get vaccinated for medical reasons but then again maybe those staff would be wfh or shielding anyway.

The other end of the spectrum is my DHs work where no one cares about safety and am waiting for a test result now as one of his colleagues went into work while sick and has Covid.

These 'PR stunts' are common in many countries. In dental offices, in opthalmologists, in beauty salons, in hair salons, in Ubers. It is coming to the UK

I'm sure some organisations will continue to not take legal advice and make the law up as they go along until they have a major personal injury claim for a bad reaction to a vaccine they made someone have.

See who hasn’t bothered reading OPs replies 😁 OP has spoken to a union, and Breach of Contract does not apply. HTH

[quote VioletUltraViolet]@Double3xposure I work in the uk. I wear a mask.
My company have not discussed Covid questionnaires or any form of screening whatsoever since I began working here in May. Other agents I know have not been doing this either for a long while.
Sanitising is just part of our culture now. No pre screening questions at all, nor have I received questions from clients either. Are you an estate agent?[/quote]
I had to send a letter and questionnaire out to everyone. I had to state how the info would be used, kept safe and who it would be shared with in line with GDPR. I would be on very dodgy ground if I shared someones medical data with a domestic customer. The care homes we do share it with have to have their own DPO and systems in place to keep it safe.

OP, maybe you could ask for a copy of your workplace policy and how they plan on keeping your info confidential as they have no right to tell any customer.

OP - it seems bad of your employer to put this into place without any warning. But I'm strongly on their side apart from that element. If I was selling a house I would want to know anyone coming in and showing people round was vaccinated, tested and and would wear a mask in my house.

Weirdly in my office it's the sales staff who are all anti-vaxx. There are several full on, vocal Covid deniers.

I think it’s a tough one because you are essentially going into peoples houses in a similar way to a carer but with less physical contact

It's completely different! Anyway what about the potential buyers? Do they need a vaccine passport too?

Also, a lot of people go out for viewings and leave it to the estate agent, so they are not there anyway.

@NowEvenBetter

See who hasn’t bothered reading OPs replies 😁 OP has spoken to a union, and Breach of Contract does not apply. HTH

See who knows fuck all about anything. Breach of contract always "applies", whether you can do anything about it an employee is what varies, depending on what sort of breach it is.

If you have now decided to have the vaccine and not having it will have such a negative impact on your income I would take the time to opt for a walk in vaccine centre where you will be able to receive the jab before February (but go dressed for the weather as I believe the queues are long).

I think this will become more commonplace with employers in the future.

If I was selling a house I would want to know anyone coming in and showing people round was vaccinated, tested and and would wear a mask in my house

But you have no right to know about individuals, only a company's general policy, so put up with it or don't sell your house.

@NowEvenBetter

Choices have consequences. It’s a good thing than the unvaxxed are excluded, don’t want to participate in doing the bare minimum for society? Cool. Off you fuck! (Not you, since you’re choosing to get the vaccine) Can’t have been that much of a huge shock, do you follow current events?

Not this nonsense again. People do not get vaccinated for "society". They get vaccinated to protect themselves and those close to them.

It's fair enough.

If you aren't vaccinated, your chance of passing it to your customers is higher (not popular or conducive to a quick sale), and the chances of you bringing infection back to your colleagues is higher too.

We're all working from home now, despite being fully vaccinated, and will be until the govt 'work from home' advice is lifted.