The British Chambers of Commerce have published new survey data showing that only 5 per cent of businesses have implemented requirements for proof of vaccination.
More than 1,000 UK businesses were surveyed, showing that firms with more than 50 staff were more likely than smaller firms to be considering vaccine certification but 69 per cent presently having no plans to do so, 6 per cent stating that they were likely to do so in the future and 11 per cent saying they needed more information.
The data also showed that 76 per cent of firms expect social distancing and 54 per cent wearing face masks - plus hand sanitising - as the Covid-19 measures that firms are most likely to expect to continue to have in place over the next 12 months.
The figures come just a few days after the Prime Minister confirmed government plans to drop advice to work from home from 21 June - providing that the current easing of coronavirus restrictions continues to go to plan. The British Chambers of Commerce have called on the government to provide clear and decisive guidance to businesses regarding the use of vaccine certification.
Hannah Essex - Co-Executive Director of the BCC - said:
“Businesses have worked hard to keep their customers and employees safe throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so. This research shows that Government must quickly clarify what measures will be required for businesses to maintain safety standards after we reach the final stage of the roadmap on June 21st. In particular they must resolve the ongoing debate around the use of vaccine certification, providing clear and decisive guidance to business.
There has been a great deal of mixed signals on the issue of businesses being required to demand proof of vaccination from customers, suppliers or employees. Our figures show that as it stands, the vast majority of firms have no plans in place for such a scenario. So, if government is indeed planning to make this a requirement, then it must act rapidly to inform businesses so that they can adjust and prepare.
Right now, many businesses are working on the assumption that they will be continuing with a variety of Covid-secure measures over the next 12 months including social distancing, mask wearing and various other interventions. Many of these measures come at a cost to business and can restrict firms’ ability to trade at full capacity. Government must clearly set out when, and in what way, it will be safe to change these practises so that businesses can fully play their part in the economic recovery from the pandemic.”
Rachel Suff - Senior Employment Relations Adviser at the CIPD - said employers needed to be very careful if demanding proof of vaccination from employees, as this was sensitive personal health data.
She said:
“Employers need to comply with data protection rules.”
She added:
“The UK government hasn’t made the vaccine compulsory so far, so neither can employers. Nor should they be restricting people coming to work based on whether they have had the vaccine.”
Alan Price - CEO of BrightHR - agreed that employers should focus on other methods of controlling the spread of the virus - encouraging staff to take the vaccine by outlining the benefits of doing so.
He said:
“Employers may find it challenging to implement the requirement for employees to have been vaccinated in order to work or continue working for them.”
