Companies May Refuse To Hire Staff Who Haven't Had Covid Vaccine

Covid vaccination passports could give companies the ability to refuse to hire people that haven't had the jab.

Ministers think the a passport scheme could be essential in reopening venues successfully and The Times reports that a senior government source said that ministers were 'resigned' to the fact that they would not legally be able to stop companies from demanding proof of the vaccine as a condition of employment.

PA

It's believed that some companies are already drafting vaccination requirements into contracts for staff with some businesses claiming that employees must be vaccinated against the virus in order the work.

Legal representation company Seyfarth wrote about what people could expect in the future from Covid passports which they believe would be an electronic or physical record of an individual's vaccine, test, medical exemptions as well as their antibody and/or immunity status.

Seyfarth, wrote: "At this stage there is generally no obligation for private employers to require COVID passports. That said, employers may already be expected to track the test status and safety of their workers to ensure that they know if any staff are affected, who is working onsite or at third-party locations, etc.

"Where private employers are most involved at this stage is where they want/need workers to be back onsite, interact with members of the community, and/or travel. Where staff can work safely and effectively from home/remotely, the issue of COVID passports is less pressing.

"For now we recommend that private employers promptly begin considering where their business may be subject to expectations or requirements to implement COVID passports."

PA

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has suggested that vaccine passports will not be introduced on a 'permanent basis' but they could be a beneficial 'tool in the short term' to safely reopen venues.

This could potentially include hospitality venues, music events and theatres.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested a certificate could give 'maximum confidence' to businesses and customers as society reopens.

Not everyone agrees on the need for the passports though. Labour peer Baroness Shami Chakrabarti, who is among a cross-party group of politicians warning ministers against introducing coronavirus vaccine passports for everyday life in England, said: "It's dangerous, it's discriminatory, it's counter-productive.

"It's one thing to have a passport to travel internationally, that is a privilege, even a luxury, but participating in local community life is a fundamental right."

Topics: UK News, News, Coronavirus, UK

Rebecca Shepherd

I'm Becky - a journalist at LADbible. I graduated with a First Class BA in Journalism before going on to cover criminal court cases, medical tribunals and breaking news for the national media - which inevitably and eventually became as glum as it sounds. Can often be found rocking a bag for life - which I made a 'thing' way before Rihanna. You can contact me at [email protected]

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