No Jab, No Job - The Independent

"As a business, we don't have any jab policy but everyone out of our 15 staff has had at least one jab and most both. "Luckily we've created a work environment where people want to come into the office (complete with office dog and beer fridge) and no one wants to jeopardise their ability to come in by getting COVID or being pinged after 16th August. Frankly they're all fed up with homeworking for months on end and don't want to risk having to do so for another prolonged period!"

"The 'no jab, no job' is nothing but disgusting coercive action by both employers and the Government. I cannot imagine this to be legal for starters. "Before any anti-vax accusations start, I got my second dose of Pfizer last Sunday, but forcing people to have a medical procedure to secure gainful employment is, in my eyes, definitely a step too far. Whatever happened to individual choice and responsibility? My business policy is quite straightforward. You're an adult, you choose and accept the consequences of that choice."

"No Jab, No Job could be one of the most ridiculous decision that a company could make as they may have staff who, due to their own medical circumstances, are unable to take the vaccine — and those who simply won't take it until more research is done especially with the survival rate of COVID-19 being so strong for most young, fit and healthy people. The whole idea is highly undemocratic and draconian. People should be allowed to make their own decisions and if they wish to take the jab, that's great."

“Employers should proceed with caution. The EHRC warned that blanket mandatory vaccination policies, applied inflexibly, are "likely to be unlawful” and amount to indirect discrimination. "Indirect discrimination could arise relating to several protected characteristics, for example on the grounds of age, where younger workers are more cautious of being vaccinated due to the lower risk of hospitalisation. "Disability, where some of the vaccines are not suitable for some individuals with suppressed immune systems or certain allergies. "Pregnancy or maternity, due to the change in government advice from this group should not be vaccinated to should be, some to be mothers may be cautious. "Sex, where some young woman may wish to delay vaccination if they are attempting to conceive. "And religion or belief, or philosophical belief, for example gelatine derived from pigs is often used in mass-produced vaccines which may be a concern for Muslim, Hindu, Vegan or Vegetarian employees. "Finally, there is a hot debate whether employees that have a strongly held belief that vaccines are harmful to public health (anti-vaxxers), and whether this could constitute a ‘philosophical belief' as a protected belief. "Current thinking it that this unlikely under the exisiting case law test developed to determine the requirements of what constitutes a belief. That said, case law evolves and it will be the courts that will ultimately determine this. In summary, a blanket approach is not advised; employers should by all means encourage employees and consultation with your workforce will be key."