Some UK employers are likely to give their employees a clear choice over the coming months when the UK exits lockdown – don’t turn-up for work if you have not been Covid-vaccinated.
Employment rights bodies have voiced concerns about such a policy, on the grounds of discrimination. The concept of coerced vaccination has also been strongly criticised by one of Britain’s largest trade unions who say “forced vaccinations are the wrong way to go and send out a sinister and worrying message”.
However, many employers are planning to proceed regardless. A notable inclusion is the high-profile London-based maintenance company, Pimlico Plumbers, who have ~ 400 employees.
“No vaccine, no job,” is the position being taken by its Chairman who added that “when we visit Africa and Caribbean countries, we must have a malaria jab — we don’t think about it, we just do it.”
The UK’s Vaccine Minister, Nadhim Zahawi has said that “it is up to businesses what they do,” but other government guidance suggests that a no-jab-no-job policy may be illegal on multiple grounds.