Government must step in to prevent vaccine strong-arm tactics towards care staff

The government must take action against care home employers refusing to employ staff hesitant about having the Covid vaccine, or intimidating others into having the injection by linking it to pay and employment, says UNISON today (Friday). If the vaccine programme is to work properly and maximum take-up across the social care secured, individuals​ should be encouraged, not intimidated, into receiving a jab, the union says. UNISON has written to care minister Helen Whately calling for the government to intervene. It follows the announcement that Barchester Healthcare will not hire workers who refuse the vaccine, and will restrict promotions, bonuses and other rewards only to those who have had the injection. A small number of other companies are understood to be considering following suit. This heavy-handed approach is exactly the opposite of what’s needed to encourage the maximum number of care workers to come forward for the vaccine, says UNISON. It is urging all care companies to adopt a similar approach to that being used across the NHS. UNISON says the Barchester move goes against the government’s own advice and it wants to see ministers make a stand against the company. In its letter, UNISON urges the care minister to “send a strong message to employers that putting pressure on staff to take the vaccine as a condition of their work is totally unacceptable”. “We are asking that you act now to make it clear to the sector that the government expects e...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release care Christina McAnea vaccine Source Type: news