According to new research by Glassdoor - who polled 2,000 workers - 56 per cent of UK workers believe that it should be made compulsory for staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before they return to work.

Despite 14 per cent of employees saying that they would resign if they were required to return before all workers had been vaccinated, experts warn against making vaccination compulsory.

To encourage staff to become inoculated against Covid-19, 39 per cent of workers believe that a financial incentive - such as a cash bonus - would prompt staff to accept the jab.  However, despite the suggestion of a cash incentive, 12 per cent of employees still stated that they were not willing to be vaccinated.

According to guidance by the CIPD, employers should make every effort to encourage staff to get vaccinated against the virus to reduce workplace risks.

Rachel Suff - Senior Employment Relations Adviser at the CIPD - stated that employers should be offering incentives such as flexible hours and/or paid time off work to allow employees to make vaccination appointments. 

However, she added:

“The government hasn't made the vaccine mandatory, so employers shouldn't either. Employers must also be careful not to stigmatise or discriminate against those who don't get the vaccine either because they can't or choose not to. It's also really important that organisations continue to follow all Covid-secure guidelines now and as they navigate any return to work in the future, closely following government advice.”

Tom Neil - Senior Adviser at Acas - suggested that business managers speak to employees about the benefits of vaccination, saying:

“Having open discussions with staff about the vaccine can help to reduce concerns they may have, thereby encouraging them to protect their health, while maintaining good working relationships.”

In other areas of the survey, 68 per cent of workers stated that social distancing and wearing masks should remain compulsory until everyone in the office has been vaccinated.

Carina Cortez - Chief People Officer at Glassdoor - said employers needed to be working on their office re-entry plan.

She added:

“It seems UK employees are unwilling to be rushed back into the office, so we recommend each employer takes into account employee feedback to determine what is best for their workforce, including a policy on whether vaccinations will be compulsory. This is an incredibly sensitive area but the bigger opportunity here is to define what office life will be like, both this year and in the long term.” 

Rachael Cage - Associate Solicitor for Bird & Bird - stated that businesses needed to be aware of the data protection implications of any vaccination policy, saying:

“Vaccine data may be treated as special category data for data privacy purposes, so employers also need to be conscious of this when storing information on staff vaccines. In the months ahead, HR teams will be pivotal in effectively consulting with the workforce, drafting practical and appropriate vaccination policies, and ensuring appropriate checks and balances are in place to enforce the company’s vaccination policy legally.”