Debates rise over discrimination against unvaccinated

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Mon, October 2, 2023 | 01:28

Health & Science

Debates rise over discrimination against unvaccinated

Posted : 2021-11-02 16:43

Updated : 2021-11-03 09:02

A person receives a COVID-19 vaccine shot at a clinic in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

People are showing mixed reactions to stories about jobseekers who claimed that companies refused to hire them because they were unvaccinated against COVID-19 and had no plans to get inoculation.

Some denounced the companies for discriminating against the unvaccinated, while others said they understand the companies would want to reduce the possibility of infection spreading among workers.

A person wrote on an online community of jobseekers, Oct. 29, that his employment was canceled because he was not inoculated.

"I passed the interview yesterday and was supposed to start work next Monday. A company official called to ask if I had been vaccinated, so I answered I haven't and I don't intend to get one due to fear of possible side effects. Then the official told me it is regrettable but I cannot take the job," the person wrote.

"If this is the company's rule, they should have told me about it in advance when I had the interview. I even turned down a job offer from another company."

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Another person wrote on the community that he applied for a job at a company and passed the job interview, but then received a text message from the company that read, "You can start work after you're fully vaccinated. If not, the employment offer is canceled."

Some even claimed that they have been fired for not being vaccinated.

"There are 35 employees in my company, and everyone is vaccinated except for me and one colleague who couldn't get it because of an underlying condition. My boss called me yesterday and asked why I haven't been vaccinated. I said I was worried about side effects as there are multiple people around me who were suffering from side effects," one user wrote on a portal site.

"My boss told me to resign and leave the office immediately, so I quit."

But other internet users said the company's position is understandable, because if an unvaccinated employee is infected, the company will suffer huge losses due to other workers having to self-quarantine, so it can be seen as a precautionary measure.

"There is no reason for companies to take such risks, and they can hire other jobseekers who have already been vaccinated or have plans to get vaccinated. Just as individuals have the right to be vaccinated, companies have the right to not employ unvaccinated individuals," one user commented.

Another user also wrote, "I think that individuals have some social responsibility as members of a community. No company has any reason to bear the uncertainty arising from unvaccinated workers."

But others argued that employers must notify job applicants in advance of any intention to hire only vaccinated workers, and that asking them to get vaccinated would violate an individual's right to choose.

"Shouldn't it be stated in the recruitment announcement if you cannot join the company if you are not vaccinated?" one commented. "It is unreasonable for a company to cancel the employment after such short notice. Of course, getting a vaccine is an individual's freed choice, and no company has the authority to force this."

ejb@koreatimes.co.kr