[UK] Pimlico Plumbers will make workers get COVID-19 vaccine

Pimlico Plumbers intends to have all its workers' contracts rewritten to require them to be vaccinated against COVID-19, BBC News reports. Charlie Mullins - Pimlico Plumbers’ chairman - said it was "a no-brainer" that workers should receive the vaccine.

Mr Mullins said that if workers at the London firm do not want to comply with the policy a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis about whether they are kept on. However, employment lawyers said the plan carried risks for the business.

By mid-February, the NHS intends to have vaccinated 15 million people from priority groups as part of efforts to try to control the coronavirus pandemic’s spread.

Mr Mullins said he was prepared to pay for people at Pimlico Plumbers to get private immunisations - which would be done on the company's time - should they become available.

The firm plans to change its contracts for new joiners to require COVID-19 immunisation. As soon as it is practical it will also rewrite its contracts with existing workers and employees, depending on vaccine availability. BBC News has further details of the story and the legal risks involved.

Pimlico Plumbers intends to have all its workers' contracts rewritten to require them to be vaccinated against COVID-19, BBC News reports. Charlie Mullins - Pimlico Plumbers’ chairman - said it was "a no-brainer" that workers should receive the vaccine.

Mr Mullins said that if workers at the London firm do not want to comply with the policy a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis about whether they are kept on. However, employment lawyers said the plan carried risks for the business.

By mid-February, the NHS intends to have vaccinated 15 million people from priority groups as part of efforts to try to control the coronavirus pandemic’s spread.

Mr Mullins said he was prepared to pay for people at Pimlico Plumbers to get private immunisations - which would be done on the company's time - should they become available.

The firm plans to change its contracts for new joiners to require COVID-19 immunisation. As soon as it is practical it will also rewrite its contracts with existing workers and employees, depending on vaccine availability. BBC News has further details of the story and the legal risks involved.