COVID Vaccine for Work
The NHS is offering the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to people in order of who's most at risk
Photo by Hakan Nural
Employers should support staff in getting the coronavirus vaccine once it's offered to them. There's no law that says people must have the vaccine, even if an employer would prefer someone to have it.
There may be some people who are advised not to have the vaccine, for example for health reasons. There's a chance someone might still get or spread coronavirus if they've had a vaccine.
Even once people are vaccinated they must still follow:
working safely guidelines
See government vaccine advice:
in England – coronavirus vaccine from the NHS
in Scotland – coronavirus vaccine from NHS inform Scotland
in Wales – COVID-19 vaccination information from Public Health Wales
Photo by Steven Cornfield
Supporting staff to get the vaccine
Employers may find it useful to talk with their staff about the vaccine and share the benefits of being vaccinated.
It could help to discuss things like:
the government's latest vaccine health information
when staff might be offered the vaccine
if staff will need time off work to get vaccinated
pay for time off work related to the vaccine
whether the employer plans to collect data on staff vaccinations, and if so, how this will follow data protection law (UK GDPR)
whether anyone needs to be vaccinated to be able to do their job
There are specific information materials for some sectors and groups, for example for healthcare workers on GOV.UK.
To encourage staff to get the vaccine, employers might consider:
paid time off for vaccination appointments
paying staff their usual rate of pay if they're off sick with vaccine side effects, instead of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
not counting vaccine-related absences in absence records or towards any 'trigger' system the organisation may have
Talking with staff can help:
agree a vaccine policy that's appropriate for both staff and the organisation
support staff to protect their health
keep good working relationships
avoid disputes in the future
If someone does not want the vaccine
If someone does not want to be vaccinated, the employer should listen to their concerns. Some people may have health reasons, for example they could get an allergic reaction to the vaccine, or they're pregnant. There is government information on the vaccine, for example for women who are pregnant on GOV.UK.
Employers should be sensitive towards personal situations and must keep any concerns confidential. They must be careful to avoid discrimination. If someone is concerned about their health and the vaccine, they should talk to their doctor.
If an employer feels staff should be vaccinated
It's best to support staff to get the vaccine without forcing them to.
If an employer feels it's important for staff to be vaccinated, they should talk together with staff or the organisation's recognised trade union to discuss what steps to take.
Any decision after that discussion should be put in writing, for example in a workplace policy. It must also be in line with the organisation's existing disciplinary and grievance policy.
It’s a good idea for the employer to get legal advice before bringing in a vaccine policy.
Resolving an issue about getting the vaccine
If an employee or employer feels there's an issue, it's best to try and resolve it informally.
An employee or worker can raise an issue by talking with their:
employer
trade union representative, if they're a member of a trade union
health and safety representative, if they have one
employee representatives
If it cannot be resolved informally:
staff can raise a problem formally by 'raising a grievance'
the employer could start a disciplinary procedure