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SOME RETAIL WORKERS have claimed that they are being docked pay or have to stay back late to ‘pay back’ the time taken to get their Covid-19 vaccine during a work shift.
This is despite messages from the Government and from NPHET asking employers to facilitate workers attending their Covid-19 vaccine appointment.
A number of people have said that their employer has asked them to book an annual day’s leave to get vaccinated, told them to “pay back” the time taken to get vaccinated, docked their pay for the time they took to get vaccinated, or asked them to reschedule their vaccine appointment.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar told The Journal that ‘it is in everyone’s interest’ for retail staff to get vaccinated and urged employers to be more flexible.
It’s understood that there has been some reports to unions of retail staff experiencing this, but not a significant amount. Employees who aren’t unionised could also be affected, if not more so than those who are trade union members, but there isn’t a group to ask whether this is the case.
Some workers contacted The Journal about their experience of trying to attend their vaccine appointment during work hours.
If you're a retail or service sector worker who has been told you have to 'pay back' time spent getting vaccinated during working hours, please get in touch - we're looking to do a story about this today. Mail: grainne@thejournal.ie
— Gráinne Ní Aodha (@GNiAodha) July 19, 2021
One worker, aged 28 and based in the Midwest, said: “We are told our wages are docked for the time we are gone for the vaccine until the time we are back (we have been instructed to clock out) or to work back however long we’ve been gone at the end of our shift.
“For example, I’m working 8am-4pm and I have my first shot at 3.20pm and will have to leave at 3pm, so I will be docked my last hour because I won’t be back in time.”
32-year-old David Johnson is based in Bettystown, and has been a retail worker for 10 years. He told The Journal:
“I got my vaccine appointment last Thursday for this coming Friday. I told my line manager and requested a day’s annual leave. I don’t particularly mind this part, despite not fully agreeing with it.”
David said that because they are not paid during the time they take to attend their vaccine appointment, taking annual leave on the day of their Covid-19 vaccine appointment is the “only real option” to not be short on income.
“My line manager said, ‘Let me check the roster’. 30 minutes later, he came down to me and then asked why did I pick the Friday and could I not reschedule it ‘as we are short staffed that week’. I laughed out loud.
So I asked him to confirm he wants me to postpone getting my vaccine whilst we are in the middle of a pandemic. His response was yes, and that can I not do him a favour. Again, all I could do was laugh.
The Journal was also told by a vaccinator that two women wearing a retailer’s uniform who arrived separately to be vaccinated said that they had to ”pay back” the time they took to come for their vaccination by working overtime.
The vaccinator said that one of the women had asked whether she needed to stay for the 15-minute observation period after the injection, because she had to go back to work or else she would have to work late.
The second woman wearing the same uniform was also in a rush to go back to work because she had to “pay back” the time she missed which was not part of her lunch break.
Do employers have to give them the time?
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar said he would ‘strongly encourage all employers to facilitate staff getting to their vaccine appointment’.
He told The Journal:
It should be possible to organise shifts and working time around appointments, but where that’s not possible, particularly when appointments are given at short notice, employers should be flexible.
“It’s in everyone’s interest that staff and customer-facing staff especially get vaccinated. It’ll help us to ensure that businesses stay open through the delta wave and any future waves of infection.”
When asked about worker’s wages being docked for taking time off to get their vaccine, Varadkar told Newstalk’s Pat Kenny today that employers need to “have a heart, basically”.
He said a bit of “name and shaming might help”, stating that he would certainly like to see people that know about companies and employers that that are behaving this way to make it known.
Varadkar said an appointment for a vaccine is the same as a medical appointment. Most of the time, people can organise their shifts around their appointments, giving plenty of notice.
“But actually what’s happening at the moment because the vaccine program is going so well, as people are registering for their vaccine, and they’re getting an appointment for a days time or two days time or three days time, your shifts might already be set out.
“So we’re saying to employers that in all circumstances, you really should let your employee get their vaccine and not dock their wages for it… You really facilitate them and not penalise them financially, it is in your interest, that your staff are vaccinated for all sorts of obvious reasons. And you know, have a heart basically,” he said.
The Department of Enterprise has said that employers are not legally obliged to offer time off for vaccine appointments – but they should bear in mind that doing so will “will greatly assist in the recovery of individual businesses and of the wider economy”.
It said in a statement last month that employers are “obliged to take reasonable steps to provide a safe place of work for their staff” – and if they fail to do so, workers can make a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission.
When asked if this was still the Department’s position, a spokesperson said that it was.
“The Department encourages employees to engage with their employer in the first instance once they are assigned a vaccination appointment to explore all options available to enable them to receive the vaccination should it fall during working time.”
When asked whether the Department was in touch with retailers about facilitating vaccinations, a spokesperson said that while it “is not contacting individual employers, we would encourage all employers to be as flexible and supportive as possible with a view to maintaining good employment relationships over the long term”.
Vaccines for the young during a busy summer season
Speaking to The Journal, Labour Senator Marie Sherlock said that there was a need to ensure that all employers are accommodating their workers who wish to be vaccinated when their appointments arise.
“No one gets a choice when their appointment is,” she said.
“The key message has to go out, it’s important that people get their vaccine, but it’s also important for the business and their workplace [that] those who want to be vaccinated are vaccinated.
“In the rare event that there is an adverse reaction from the vaccine, it’s also important that employees are looked after by employers.”
She said that during what is a very busy retail and hospitality season, where workplaces will be under pressure due to demand, some businesses may find it difficult to allow for the time for their young staff to go and get vaccinated.
I have a particular concern that workers in retail and hospitality may find themselves in a less-than-accommodating environment, and we cannot afford people to be missing their vaccination when they want it.
“We need the Government to come out with a clear message that employers need to accommodate workers full stop – that hasn’t been obvious in recent weeks.”
GP Patrick Kelly, who is taking part in the vaccination programme, said:
“I think it’s important that workers (especially those who earn the minimum wage) and have effectively been frontline for the whole pandemic are appreciated and respected by society at large and their employers. It makes perfect business sense for businesses to facilitate vaccination in whatever way they can.”
With reporting by Christina Finn
Are you a retail or hospitality worker who has found it difficult to attend a Covid-19 vaccine appointment during work hours? Get in touch: grainne@thejournal.ie.
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Name & Shame
@Jack: totally agree, Jack. Responsible individuals getting the vaccine will support the business 100%. Perhaps signs on stores saying 100% staff have received the vaccine would be a positive step
@Jack: absolutely agree, disgusting behavior.
@Jack: dunnes
@Jack: Dunnes Stores, for one
@Jack: Been well named on Twitter and Facebook.
@Jack: it’s not just retail workers, my wife works for a massive tech company and worked all morning then was forced take a half days holidays to get an afternoon vaccination last week.
@Alanlen80 Alan: Tech companies normally don’t even question the need for time off or sick leave. Surprised at that.
@Jack: that be all well and good,but my last workplace made staff sign a new contract that says you are not allowed to ever comment or negatively depict the company on social media. If you had the companys name on your fb profile for example you couldnt even say ‘work sucks today’ etc…plenty of other types of abuse going on in retail.
@OnlyHereForTheComments: I have to say my employer has been brilliant about allowing staff getting vaccinated and actively encourages staff to get it but also has no plans to bring in any requirements for people to get vaccinated. They have clearly stated they will not force staff to be vaccinated if they do not wish to be.
Retail workers are among the unsung heroes of the Pandemic.They have been on the frontline throughout and have received little accolade. Sadly, it seems, there are some petty little despots in middle management who consider time off to get vaccinated as recreational.
@John Costello: agreed. I also think they should have been given a bit more consideration in the vaccine rollout given the amount of people and cash they deal with. I know that my local store has been rostering around appointments and trying to give staff the day after off as well where possible, they also have an agreement with the local pharmacy where they’ll get a call if a vaccine appointment is cancelled to see if they have anyone wanting to take it.
I am an employer in a small business and this is just not alone morally wrong but is plain dumb. If any of my staff need time to go for a vaccine during their working day – they get paid whilst gone. Full stop. Morals aside it makes no business sense to risk the goodwill, and good health, of precious staff for the sake of a very small amount of money.
@Alan Rossiter: Kudos!! There are some employers who should take a leaf out of your book.
@Alan Rossiter: you, sir, are a fantastic manager. Can you give a TED Talk to the foools in the back who don’t think like you? (Also love how incorrectly spelling a words gets around the toxic bot ban).
@Alan Rossiter: exactly. Staff are an asset (not the prettiest of terms but its true) and a staff member getting covid could have a major impact on the business. Even a business with two daily shifts with two staff on each would have to have at least 4 staff members self isolate after one tested positive.
Is anybody supprised ?
@Tom Kelly: At your attempt at spelling SURPRISED? – it’s a yes from me
@Kevin Arnold: Feel proud of your juvenile comment won’t you. While the rest of us worry about the real world.
@Paul Gorry: lighten up and get off your high horse. How do you know he wasn’t messing or being sarcastic? *sigh*
@Kevin Arnold: Great Kevin I see what you did there! I tend to let thinks like a p or r in the wrong position slide as not everyone has the same access to education as you did or maybe clicks the the wrong button by mistake. Maybe you could offer an apology for your ignorance? (Did I use the correct your or should I have used you’re)
@Paul Gorry: says the chap with that crest as his profile pic….LOL.
@Paul Gorry: feel proud of your juvenile comment do you? While the rest of us worry about the real world
@Kevin Arnold: should you not have a full-stop in you statement.
This is what happens every time the government “asks” businesses to please do something decent that’s not in their interests.
Most comply, and there’ll be these “scandals” around miserably stingey business owners — yes businesses had it hard, but they didn’t mind asking for help when they were the ones on the receiving end.
The government has no business asking anyone to do anything. It is the law or it’s not — making law is what the government is there for. Otherwise you’ll always end up with these situations where 99% of people are fortunate and have reasonable employers, and 1% are just unlucky and told tough.
@Gerard: very well said!!
@Gerard: you only have to look at those selfsh billionaires whom think the world is their playground. And & whom thanked his struggling workers who work for pittins for the privilege!
@Gerard: I imagine it’s more than 1% of employers are acting this way.
Dreadful treatment of employees
Dunnes stores are one of the worst culprits.. the only people that didn’t get time off over the whole pandemic!! Have they no shame!!
Just another reason for the the young people of Ireland!!!.To take a rain check. And relise we are getting the fluck out of here.
@Paul Gorry: thats what FFG want , they don’t want young people around for the next election cause they know the young will finally vote them out of existence!
I certainly know where I work many of my co workers are been sent miles for a vaccine jab. Many have 45min+ drive to and from plus queue and wait 15mins also. We did get 2hrs to get there and back without deduction of wages but after that you could be stopped hrs.
@Hugh Mc Donnell: seems reasonable
Some employers just don’t care and it’s poor form to see in the pandemic. It’s probably the ‘zero hours’ contracted employees who are getting a tough time of it.
This isn’t just happening in the retail, a family member of mine who’s in their 60s had to work in the time to get out of work to get theirs despite being on salary with the the company for over 15 years and working the whole way through the pandemic
@Emma McGuire: i would encourage people who have these examples to name the employers – if you are working for a business for 15 years and they are treating staff with such a level of contempt – they don’t deserve loyalty and respect in return – name and shame and allow staff and customers vote with their feet – guaranteed the same minority of poorly managed businesses doing this will be the exact same ones next month saying ‘ we can’t keep our staff ‘ – there are poorly run business everywhere – we don’t need to be shy about calling out the culprits and shining a light on the bad offenders
@Dave Hammond: name and shame, allow customers vote with their feet. And then the company or shop closes and staff are out of a job. Who wins their??
@Francis: imo pretty much everyone wins …..business that fail do so for a reason – the ones that are treating staff better attract staff and customers more – the staff. get better treatment – the customers are supporting business that treat staff better – this nonsense that you can’t name the culprits is half the problem – i completely disagree with your hide under a rock for fear of them going out of business nonsense – if they are supplying a service that people want successful business will replace them
Remember lads we are all in this together!!!
@james cullen: Unless you’re an anti-masker who goes around videoing yourself harrassing retail workers, plenty of them about.
That’s absolutely disgusting, retail workers have put the lives on the line throughout the pandemic by going to work each day and more than likely doing plenty of overtime too. What if they have a bad reaction to the vaccination and have to go home, will they be held responsible for that and docked even more pay for missing more hours in work. What a way to treat your staff who have helped their retail businesses to survive the pandemic and this is how they are treated, with no respect at all. I wonder did the owners get docked pay when they went for their vaccinations. (I seriously doubt it).
Let’s ignore the public for a minute- because their ‘rights’ are so many.
I’d be interested to know what private companies are offering paid time off for vaccines?
I don’t work in retail, but I had to use annual leave or time in lieu for each of my vaccines. Is that not the norm?
@EvieXVI: Dunno what the norm is, but it’s not what I would do. I ignore the norm if the norm is just plain wrong.
@EvieXVI: our company is providing a day off for the vaccine appointment plus up to 5 additional sick days if you have any side effects
@EvieXVI: I work for a US multinational. We get a day off for the vaccine appointments, plus up to 5 additional sick days if you have any side effects. My first jab was at the Aviva… the queue was so long it took 3 hours
@EvieXVI: paid sick day off or can be split to 2 half days if getting 2 doses
@EvieXVI: nope not the norm at all!
@EvieXVI: fully paid for all staff to get vaccine
@EvieXVI: it wouldn’t have even occurred to me to have to ask to take time off for it ? I took the time needed and would have been given any additional time needed for side effects (I didn’t need any) , no questions asked. I work for a large MN.
@Sos: well now I’m feeling like a mug! Would ring in sick today, but have no paid sick
days left (I only get 5!)
@EvieXVI: I’d email them and ask for clarity pointing out you used annual leave. They may credit it back as a once off
@EvieXVI: there is no “norm” in retail since the recession. All sorts of mad contracts (looking at you, zero hours contract). They don’t necessarily have either annual leave or time in lieu or even paid sick leave.
Name and shame!
This is absolutely DISCRACE and these worked long hard hours (supermarket’s ect.)during the early days of Covid and still do.Really employers should be more flexible and should accommodate their staff so its a safer environment for staff and the public.Name and shame.
Clearly no one in government has ever worked in retail- I remember one manager asked me to break up with my then girlfriend, now wife, in order to put more time into their little corner shop. Another time they tried to schedule me on shifts that clashed with college exams, shifts I never normally worked and told me to choose college or pay (picked college). Retail managers are king of their tiny little hill but somehow think that their little corner shop is the most important thing in the world and your lucky to be getting €7 an hour with them.
I know of a lad whose company asked the staff that if they got a call or text to attend for the vaccine and it fell on one of their working days, That the staff members should ask for an appointment on their day off instead.
There is also the risk of becoming ill after either dose, So time off should be allowed for this also.
For my 2nd jab i finished 3 hours early, if the time was docked from my holiday time or got payed i don’t know, but this week i am off due to being a close contact. When i spoke to my manager last Mon. about it, i said that one of my weeks holidys that is coming up in 2 weeks could be used. She informed me , No that the company will pay me my wages and my holidys due will not be affected.
@Declan Sweeney: wow! Who do you work for?
Seems reasonable.
Name and shame the places of work where employees have been treated like this.
the American company I work put in 8 hours extra on our holiday to cover vaccinations. any time off I’ll is covered under sick pay
there is no doubt that the rigour and attention to detail from the early days displayed by NPHET when they were getting data from mobile phone companies to track the level of movement of people to ensure compliance with movement restrictions is sorely lacking these days for the issues that really matter to people – the way some -not all – but some sectors have been treated is actually disgraceful – we know the ‘all in this together’ mantra was never true – but its a bit much to watch those unaffected financially with covid pontificate while the low paid and hard working sectors ( not just retail – but taxi and transport providers of all types etc have to put up with public abuse and low paid retail workers treated like this should not be acceptable – as i said name and shame is probably only option to bring some pressures on the culprits
It’s happening in more places than retail. Only fair you pay the thing back or get docked. I had to
@Jonathan: retail & service are the lowest paid jobs in this country. That’s the difference. Losing any bit of pay can be the difference between paying a bill, putting food on the table, or paying rent. That’s why it is so hard to take a sick day in Retail.
As far as I know it’s the same if you work in the public sector. You need to clock out, get your vaccine and clock back in, you don’t get paid for it
@The Voice Of Reason: untrue
@The Voice Of Reason: I very much doubt that. Many public sector employees work from home and can take the time to be vaccinated. This should be the case for all employees
@The Voice Of Reason: time is given back, its for insurance reasons!! Also the public sector got time off over the pandemic, frontline didn’t!! I think every frontline worker should get an extra 2 weeks paid holiday, it the least they deserve
That’s disgraceful
I was wondering when this was going to become a conversation. We have worked around it and turned a blind eye to the hour here and there to go get the jabs, but there has been a fair amount of absenteeism due to reactions, fever like symptoms and lethargy in the following day(s), especially as the ages have come down.
These are treated as sick leave without really having had a conversation about it or any real official guidance on whether we should be doing differently. Im surprised there isnt an illness benefit that the employer could re-claim for reactions such as these so that the employee doesn’t lose out.
Whilst I agree that staff should be paid when going for their vaccine, in the case of the retail worker from Bettystown it could be as much as three to four hours. Most have to travel to Dundalk, a 50km journey. If going by public transport it’s a good hour & twenty minutes each way!
Do their employers pay them for their commute time each day they work? Sick leave or holiday time.
@Contrary Mary: not everyone can receive paid sick leave, and many retail employees can’t take holiday time whenever they like, holiday weeks are often between x date and x date only.
I work in retail. I clocked out and took a long lunch to get my jabs. Don’t expect to get payed. Would be nice to get payed but getting jab is more important then loosing half and hours wages.
Tip of the berg my 16 yr old got a parti e job for school hollies so proud she earned 140 for 14 hours I went to collect my children’s allowance and was docked 140
@Mary Paget: You don’t get July and August payment until September if the 16/17 year old is in full time education. You have to get a form signed by the school.
Unfortunately these shops are doing what they were asked, adapting shifts to allow vaccinations means the staff make up the time elsewhere. And if they’re not able to make the time up elsewhere then they either take holiday time or skip payment. Not defending, just stating. Took two coworkers to Aviva to get their jabs today. One was doing 10 to 6 but since his appointment was at 17:10 the company allowed him to work 9 to 5 instead. Thats what Varadker asked for, that’s what they’re doing.
If its factual which I believe it is name the shops. Ask yourself do you want to be abused and used when all others were isolating and you people served us our food etc and then an employer docks you wages for getting a life saving injection. Go on to Joe Duffy and I will voice over the name of the companies and will use fictions names so no staff member would be targeted.
have your say