NSW receptionist sacked for refusing vaccine

mellowyellow

mellowyellow

Well-known Member
The Fair Work Commission has backed the right of a business to sack an employee who refused to get a flu shot as required under a public health order. The commission’s full bench majority upheld the dismissal of a receptionist at a NSW South Coast aged care facility who refused to get a flu vaccination shot. In April, Commissioner Donna McKenna found the worker’s dismissal by Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care in Bega was not unfair. She rejected the worker’s unfair dismissal application on the basis that she did not provide evidence of an allergy she claimed had prevented her from getting vaccinated.

Yesterday (Monday), a majority of the full bench upheld the original decision and dismissed the worker’s application to appeal.


This makes it clear that the writing is on the wall for employees who refuse the vaccine in Australia.
 

When covid first appeared last year we had an aunt who was in an aged care facility and we used to visit her regularly about once a fortnight.

There was no corona virus vaccine available then but we could be immunised against flu. To be allowed to visit her we had to provide proof of vaccination which we did. We also had to wear a mask, use sanitiser and our visits were limited to 30 minutes. She could only have two people visit per day.

All of this was done in an effort to keep the residents safe and well, or at least as safe possible at that time.

Auntie has since passed away. She was 93 and died peacefully in her sleep. I am so grateful that she was not gasping for air with lungs full of pus and blood.

As far as I am concerned, if the receptionist doesn't want to be vaccinated that is her right but she is working in the wrong sector. Her employer cannot afford to take a risk on her.
 
Yes really. People in nursing homes are likely to die from influenza. Most people my age get an annual flu shot anyway so it was not an onerous condition. Now that vaccines are available the requirement is for Pfizer or AstraZeneca. Soon we will also have the option of Moderna but last year none of these were available in Australia.

Covid did get into several nursing homes and the death toll in that age group was frightening. Mostly the infections were brought in by staff who were working in several different homes as casual employees. One of the lessons we did learn back then was the problems of insecure employment. People working in low paid industries as casual labour could not afford to take time off to be tested for the virus, even after symptoms appeared. They kept turning up for work, spreading sickness to other workers, customers and clients. We had little to fight with back then.

My point about the flu vax requirement was that if visitors needed to be virus free then surely the staff who were there every day and night also needed to take every precaution to protect the residents. The receptionist needs to be a team player or find a different career. The same applies to medical staff, paramedics, teachers and child care workers.
 
Don M. said:
Given the risk this virus imposes to the elderly, anyone working in Senior Care should understand the need to be vaccinated.
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The vaccine mandate goes into effect in California the end of this month. We have lost some employees. One is taking some kind of leave but a co-worker believes this is some cooked up excuse to extend herself as she is not vaccinated and has been vocal about not wanting it.

They will allow those who had the first vaccine shot by the end of the month to continue working. Otherwise we would have lost about 5 employees and could have faced unmanageable staff shortages. Now however, these people have to get the second shot and prove it. I've already turned in a copy of my vaccine card. I need my job.
 

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