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North and north-east’s biggest employers resist national trend for ‘no jab no job’ policy

By Kelly Wilson & Simon Warburton

June 5 2022, 6:00 am

No jab no job policy being considered by one in five businesses. Photo by Shutterstock

More than one in five companies are planning a ‘no Covid jab, no job’ policy according to new research.

But it seems the largest employers in the north and north-east are not following suit.

We went to 40 companies and organisations who together employ tens of thousands of workers throughout the region.

We asked if they currently have a mandatory vaccine policy and also if they plan to introduce a “no jab, no job” rule for existing and new staff.

Of these not one one said they would require employees to be vaccinated in order to work.

The survey by conciliation service Acas created headlines when it found 22% of employers planned to introduce a mandatory vaccine policy in the next year.

There is currently no law in England, Scotland or Wales that says employees must have the vaccine.

The Acas’ survey, of more than 1,000 firms, also found 22% of employers wished to only make coronavirus vaccination a condition of employment for new staff, while 21% wanted to make it mandatory for all employees.

Here’s what they said.

Aberdeen City Council

“We don’t have any policy regarding mandatory vaccination.”

Aberdeenshire Council

A spokesman said: “Whether or not someone is vaccinated against Covid-19 (or anything else) is a matter for the individual concerned.

“No Aberdeenshire Council employee, existing or new, will be discriminated against for not being vaccinated.”

Asda

No mandatory vaccine rules.

The supermarket giant said: “We support the government’s Living with Covid plan and we will of course review our policies if official guidance changes.”

Balmoral Group

“We have a support system in place that encourages staff to get vaccinated but it’s certainly not mandatory.”

DC Thomson

“We do not have a mandatory vaccine policy.”

Dril-Quip

“We support employees to receive the vaccine but have no intentions of making it mandatory.”

First Group

“We don’t have a mandatory Covid vaccine policy in place.”

The Highland Council

No mandatory vaccine policy in place and no plans to implement one for new or existing staff.

A spokeswoman said: “The Highland Council follows Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland guidelines on Covid-19.”

Highland Council headquarters in Inverness

Lidl

“I can confirm this is not something Lidl are currently planning to introduce.”

Meallmore

A spokeswoman for the care home group said: “Throughout the pandemic, Meallmore has consistently adhered to the guidelines set out by the Scottish Government and will continue to take their lead.

“We don’t have a mandatory Covid vaccine policy in place and currently have no plans to implement one.

“We continue to support the roll out of vaccinations and actively encourage all our employees to take up invitations to get vaccinated.”

North East Scotland College (NESCol)

A spokesman for NESCol said: “Vaccination is not mandatory for NESCol staff or students and there is no intention to introduce a mandatory policy.

“Throughout the pandemic the college has fully supported the NHS vaccination programme by sharing and reinforcing positive messages.”

NHS Grampian

“This kind of policy shift would not be a matter for individual boards, as this could lead to an inconsistent approach across the country.

“If such a policy were implemented (and I stress ‘if’) it would be an NHS Scotland matter.

“Covid jabs are not mandatory – but again, that is a national policy.”

Locators of ARI (Aberdeen Royal Infirmary) Picture by Kami Thomson 04/03/2020 Hospital Picture by — Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

NHS Highland

An NHSH spokesman said: “It is not our policy at NHSH or that of the NHS in Scotland to make Covid vaccines mandatory for colleagues.

“We strongly recommend vaccines are taken up, for colleagues’ own protection and that of their family, as well as those with whom they work with and care for.

“Where a colleague is working in a setting with vulnerable / significantly immunosuppressed patients and is either not vaccinated or does not disclose vaccination status, risk assessments are used to determine any mitigating actions, such as use of additional PPE or alternative duties.”

Robert Gordon University

“RGU strongly supports the Government position that getting fully vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others, from Covid-19.

“However, the university does not have a mandatory vaccine policy and has no current plans to introduce it for staff or students.”

Ross-shire Engineering

“We recommend that all our employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination however we do not deem it necessary to make vaccination mandatory.”

Sainsbury’s

The supermarket giant said it has “no set policy” for vaccines.

Stagecoach

“We do not have any mandatory vaccine policy for our employees and we have no plans to do so.”

University of Aberdeen

“We have no policy and currently no plans to implement one.”

University of the Highlands and Islands

A spokeswoman said: “We will follow Scottish Government sector guidelines in terms of Covid-19 requirements.”

She did confirm there was currently no mandatory vaccine policy in place and no plans to implement one for new or existing staff.

Moray College, University of the Highlands and Islands, Elgin.<br />Picture by Gordon Lennox

Wood

A spokeswoman said: “Wood encourages all employees to participate in national programmes offering Covid-19 vaccines that have been approved by relevant government regulators.

“Where there is a legal requirement to do so, for international travel for example, Wood may require proof of vaccination from individuals unless they have a specific exemption.”