Tas aged care in row over flu shots
A major Tasmanian aged care provider has come under fire for a policy which would have seen staff sent home without pay if they had not had a flu shot and there was an outbreak.
The organisation, which employs hundreds of staff across the state, has changed its policy after complaints were made to the Health and Community Services Union.
The union was contacted three weeks ago by a healthcare worker who could not have the flu vaccine because she had previously had a severe reaction to it.
The union’s assistant secretary, Tim Jacobson, says her employer, a major aged care provider, had told staff they could be sent home without pay if there was a flu outbreak and they had not been vaccinated.
“An employer cannot send an employee who essentially attends work and is fit for duty home without pay,” said Mr Jacobson.
He says the issue was resolved when the organisation changed its policy.
