‘No Jab, No Job’? Employment Law and Mandatory Vaccination Requirements in the UK

Abstract

Many countries have introduced vaccine certificates or "passports" during the COVID crisis as a means to regulate entry to bars, public spaces etc in the interests of public health. Such strategies have been controversial but especially so where they act as mandates to exclude from employment : "no jab, no job". This working paper explores from a UK perspective (including the sub legal system of Scotland) whether it is legitimate to exclude workers from their jobs on grounds of vaccine hesitancy or opposition.

Keywords: vaccine passports; employment; labour; health; COVID-19; law

JEL Classification: K