Medical confidentiality.

[kirmat]

Hi.
May I ask a bit of advice please? Are employers permitted to ask if you have had or are planning to have the Covid-19 vaccination whilst in a work team meeting?

Thank you.

[Shutterbug]

I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be along to answer, but as a manager (and data protection officer) i would say that asking in a team meeting would be an issue. If it needs to be asked, it should be in a 1-2-1 with the clear proviso that the staff member didn't have to answer.

I'm not a HR specialist though and it may be different depending what sector you work in where for example if you are in contact with the vulnerable.

[Beth_Disney]

I don't think asking in a meeting is the right way to ask but during a 1 to 1 should be alright. I was talking to someone earlier and he's asking all of his staff to let him know for a couple of reasons. 1) so he can plan to cover them for their appointment and 2) so he can update his workplace risk assessments.

[kirmat]

Thank you both. This was asked in a team meeting of approximately 30 people and it was asked if you have had it, when you had it and if not had it yet if you had it booked. If not you were then asked if you were planning to have it. I feel that this put people on the spot. Additionally the manager has also tried persuading those that have declined to have the vaccination to change their minds and has implied that the only reason is because they are either anti-vaxxers or swayed by social media or conspiracy theories. She has also said that these people rightly deserve to lose certain rights etc etc. Not the right way to go about things.

[anna68]

Sounds like extremely poor management to me (I’m a head of hr)

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by kirmat

Thank you both. This was asked in a team meeting of approximately 30 people and it was asked if you have had it, when you had it and if not had it yet if you had it booked. If not you were then asked if you were planning to have it. I feel that this put people on the spot. Additionally the manager has also tried persuading those that have declined to have the vaccination to change their minds and has implied that the only reason is because they are either anti-vaxxers or swayed by social media or conspiracy theories. She has also said that these people rightly deserve to lose certain rights etc etc. Not the right way to go about things.

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Sounds odd to me - but why asked if you had booked as you dont book you are called (well texted) of a time and date and not many under 60’s will have had it anyway ? Something doesnt sound right to me...

However if I was working I would only want to share a confined space with those who had had the jabs (just how I feel about it - have zero time for anti vaxers)

[kirmat]

Originally Posted by megaflyer

Sounds odd to me - but why asked if you had booked as you dont book you are called (well texted) of a time and date and not many under 60’s will have had it anyway ? Something doesnt sound right to me...

However if I was working I would only want to share a confined space with those who had had the jabs (just how I feel about it - have zero time for anti vaxers)

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We work in the NHS and have an online booking system. Sometimes you can book for the same day but mostly up to a week ish ahead. Currently they are offering all night appointments on two days a week. The people that are still considering the vaccination are not anti-vaxxers. We are almost all working from home currently. The meeting was via video conference. It just made me feel uncomfortable that people were put on the spot in front of their colleagues when it could have been approached privately.

[sam7]

Originally Posted by megaflyer

Sounds odd to me - but why asked if you had booked as you dont book you are called (well texted) of a time and date and not many under 60’s will have had it anyway ? Something doesnt sound right to me...

However if I was working I would only want to share a confined space with those who had had the jabs (just how I feel about it - have zero time for anti vaxers)

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DH has just been texted about his jab, he was sent a link to log onto and book his own date and time. He is not a keyworker, or even over 70

[Talland 2016]

I’m ok for NHS as community nurse but working a lot from home
Our organisation had an email link sent around to book our appointments
Our manager made us aware of the link and asked us to let her know if any problems booking it or if we had appointments in work time to let her know if we needed cover but nothing else. I work part time and booked a slot after work
There were a lot of comments and smiley faces on our group WhatsApp group when people had been vaccinated but as fas as I know no one was keeping a tally of names of who’d had their vaccine but certainly we weren’t asked our vaccination status in a meeting

[nolypops83]

I think addressing it in a meeting and asking people to confirm in front of others is inappropriate. Someone might not want the vaccine just yet because of health reasons, or they could be pregnant.