Deloitte sometimes asks staff in the Netherlands for QR code
The Dutch branch of Big Four office Deloitte may have asked its employees to show their vaccination certificate (QR code) since the beginning of this month.
“It has been a difficult one,” said Liesbeth Mol, member of the Board of Directors of Deloitte Netherlands, in an interview with a journalist from news platform NOS. “It has been decided: you don’t have to come to the office, but if you do want to come, you must be able to show the QR code.”
Is that allowed?
Visitors to restaurants, cafés, theaters and festivals, among others, have been obliged to show their QR code at the entrance in our country since 25 September 2021. Only then will they gain access to the activities. But from an accounting and consulting firm, being at the door of the office in no way is allowed to check, state.
Checking at the door is not what Deloitte does, Mol. The company works its employees within the property extensions to their vaccination certificate. And employees of the Big Four office are not obliged to show their QR code if their employer asks for it. However, refusers are asked by Deloitte to go home.
The national government indicates that an employer may ask an employee for his or her vaccination certificate, provided there is a good reason for this. And that is eh, says Deloitte. The company has a duty of care towards its employees. And by exercising QR codes control, deloitte’s duty can be exhausted.
Nevertheless, the central government also imposes one on an employer in that case. Employees who are required to show their QR code must be offered “a reasonable offer”. If the employer does, then “the employee will accept that alternative”. For example, making available another workplace or working from home.
Evert Verhulp, professor of Employment Law at the University of Amsterdam, against the editors of the NOS.
“The weighing of interests at Deloitte is different than at a hospital or a production line. On the one hand, the company has to provide a safe workplace. the question of such a vaccination certificate is necessary to realize this. You can also think of other measures. I don’t think it’s a problem to keep your distance at such an office on the Zuidas.”
Majority of employees looking good in
Deloitte nevertheless believes that it is acting in full accordance with the law. In addition, it relates to the issue introduced and discussed with multiple topics, which information knows that the approach has been discussed equally.
And above that, the vast majority of Deloitte employees support the approach, says Mol. “Many of our people are fine with this. We talk to people who have doubts. So far there have been no protests.”
An employee of Deloitte the words of Mol in the television program Nieuwsuur. “I actually think it’s good that vaccination certificates are checked here. It’s nice to know when I come to work here that I’m in a safe environment.”
Another employee of the accountancy and consultancy firm also sees the usefulness of the policy, but expresses slight doubts. “I think it has a bit of two sides. On the one hand, it is very nice to know that it is safe to work here. I think it is an indication that you can decide for yourself whether you are vaccinated. And now it is a bit more difficult to come to the office if you do not get vaccinated.”