Staff will be able to return to the workplace even if they refuse the Covid-19 vaccine, according to legal experts.
The Irish Independent is also reporting today that employees won’t have to tell their employer or colleagues whether they’ve received the jab.
Employees enjoy powerful rights to privacy and to bodily integrity – including a right to reject medical treatment.
This could mean that companies will not be able to segregate those who refuse to get the jab, nor can they demand to know the vaccine status of an employee.
The situation is set to create a significant business risk, and a legal headache, as many firms plan for the phased return of most workers from August.
Employers across the country will have to carry out a risk assessment in their workplace to determine how to make it safe. What constitutes a safe working environment will vary from business to business, and could potentially lead to social distancing measures being kept in place longer-term.
Read the full report here.
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