Earlier this year, we discussed the decision of Pimlico Plumbers to enforce a ‘no jab, no job’ policy and the associated risks of doing so. A link to this article can be found here. As expected, the conversation around compulsory vaccination has shown no signs of stopping. Supermarket giant Morrisons hit the headlines recently as they announced plans to cut the rate of sick pay for unvaccinated employees who are self-isolating. Despite some opposition, the UK government has now introduced a requirement that anyone working in a care home (in England) must be vaccinated unless clinically exempt. This is effective from 11th November 2021 and may pave the way for similar moves in other sectors.
The introduction of a compulsory vaccination policy is likely to carry risks for an employer. As such, seeking prior legal advice is strongly recommended.
