Background

Ms Owen was an employee of Willow Tower OPCO 1 Ltd, which runs residential nursing care facilities including the Sunrise home at which she worked. In 2017, she had asked to relinquish her contracted hours and asked to be placed on the “bank”, from which she could cover as many shifts as were available [8&9]. She also worked for herself as a Foot Health Practitioner, often providing services to the respondent [10].

By June 2021, following concerns raised by family members of residents, Willow Tower decided that all staff and contractors in the care home at which she worked had to have COVID vaccinations, though the legislation obliging those who worked in care homes to be vaccinated had not yet come into effect [14]. She refused to be vaccinated and was told that, in the circumstances, the care home “would like to continue offering you work however that would have to be on a redeployed basis, likely to the kitchen or laundry department” [16].

At a grievance hearing in August 2021, she explained she followed a vegan diet and therefore believed that she would be exempt from vaccine – “I am a vegan person and refused to have a vaccination that contains animal products”. Continue reading →