Coronavirus: Living with Covid – the implications for employers

Richard Fox considers how employers might respond to the end of the isolation rules Many may now consider the safest course is to redraft their sickness policies, or even introduce specific new ‘infection policies’. The government made its long-awaited Freedom Day announcement on Monday 21 February 2022 and later the same day the Cabinet Office …
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Religion or belief discrimination: Recent Covid-19 decisions and employment rights for anti-vaxxers

Sacha Sokhi explores two decisions which help to shed light on whether dismissals for refusing to be vaccinated or to attend the workplace due to Covid fears will be religion or belief discrimination Whether an employee claims belief discrimination, religious discrimination or breach of their human rights, the first-tier tribunals have made it clear that …
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Covid-19: What next after Plan B?

James Morrison looks at the issues facing employers following the lifting of Plan B restrictions and considers the risks involved in cutting sick pay for unvaccinated staff Employers may be able to show that disciplinary action for refusing to get vaccinated is reasonable or that the policy was objectively justified. However, in all cases, employers …
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The year ahead: What’s on the employment law horizon for 2022?

Eleanor Doubleday considers what the next 12 months may have in store for employers and their advisers 2022 may be the year when the Employment Bill originally promised in 2019 will finally begin its journey through Parliament. 2020 and 2021 were not the years that we were expecting. For many, the Covid-19 pandemic brought with …
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Covid-19: Governments advise, employers decide – can they require employees to be vaccinated?

Sean Nesbitt weighs up the case for mandatory vaccination as a condition of returning to the workplace Any decision to require vaccination (apart from when exceptions apply) should be part of a wider risk assessment that includes the other measures the employer is putting in place to protect employees. The pandemic continues to have a …
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Coronavirus: Mandatory vaccinations for high-risk workplaces – worth a shot?

As the government and some employers consider compulsory Covid-19 jabs for certain workers, Lisa Rix examines the risks and benefits of such an approach Instructing staff to get the vaccine undoubtedly has the reasonable aim of seeking to ensure a Covid-free and safe workplace. However, this may not be a reasonable or lawful instruction if …
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