Pimlico Plumbers boss Charlie Mullins enforces ‘no jab, no job’ policy for new staff
PIMLICO Plumbers is insisting that all new staff have the coronavirus jab before it will hire them.
The firm had previously said it planned to introduce a "no jab, no job" policy, but has now started to include the requirement in its recruitment adverts.
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But a spokeperson told The Sun that he returned to the UK yesterday and is in the process of booking his jab.
Earlier in January, the Mr Mullins said that he was prepared to stump up to £1million to allow staff to be vaccinated privately.
However, the vaccine is not yet available privately and a spokesperson confirmed that everyone eligible at the firm is having their jab through the NHS, so it’s unlikely to be necessary for the chairman to pay.
As well as having a Covid jab, applicants must have previously served a full trade apprentice and need substantial post qualification work experience in commercial maintenance or projects.
The job pays up to £20 per hour, with paid overtime opportunities, and is a full time PAYE role.
When The Sun went through the application, there was nowhere to declare your vaccination status, and it didn't ask applicants to provide proof.
But a spokesperson for Pimlico Plumbers said: "Our in-house recruitment team will ask for either the NHS card you get at the time of the vaccination or proof via the app when people come in."
On Pimlico Plumbers website a blog sets out the new "no jab, no job" rules and explains why the firm has taken this decision.
It reads: "I know there are critics out there painting this as a human rights issue, but all I want is to ensure that both our people and our customers are safe and to give them added confidence in this business, so it's time for 'no jab, no job' to become a reality."
"Despite all the kerfuffle surrounding our ‘no jab, no job’ policy, it doesn’t seem to have put anyone off from applying, quite the opposite in fact with most applicants thinking it's sensible and appropriate."
What are my employment rights if I haven't been vaccinated
Whether or not your vaccination status will affect your employment rights depends on your contract and how long you have been in the role.
Jodie Hill, employment lawyer at Thrive Law said: "Employers can’t legally force employees to take the vaccine; they can’t actively jab a vaccine in your arm or obtain a court order to force an employee to be vaccinated.
"It is also likely to be seen as a breach of employees’ human rights and there are possible criminal implications to consider as well."
Sarah Calderwood, partner at Slater Heelis said: "Introducing a contractual requirement for employees to have Covid vaccinations is a change in terms and conditions which employees would have to agree to.
"Without their expressed or implied agreement, employees are entitled to resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal."
However, new employees do not have the protection of an existing contract so employers can insist that you get jabbed if you want to be hired.
Find out more about employment rights and the vaccine in our guide.
Charlie Mullins the multimillion pound chairman of Pimlico told The Sun: “After much discussion with Pimlico’s legal team, our first job advert requiring applicants to have been vaccinated has gone live.
Can I be fired if I don’t get the coronavirus vaccine? Your rights explained
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