Two of Nottingham's big employers have revealed their company policies relating to the Covid-19 vaccine.
It comes after reports that employees could be fired if they refuse to be vaccinated.
The Telegraph says some Cabinet Ministers currently believe businesses who fire people for refusing to have a Covid vaccine could be protected by legislation.
A government source told the paper: “If someone is working in an environment where people haven’t been vaccinated, it becomes a public health risk.
“Health and safety laws say you have to protect other people at work, and when it becomes about protecting other people the argument gets stronger."
Pharmaceutical giants Boots has its headquarters in Beeston and employs thousands of people across the county.
It says its company policy is that taking the vaccine is a "personal choice" - but they encourage all their employees to get the jab when they become eligible.
A Boots spokesperson said: “We fully support and encourage all of our colleagues to follow the NHS guidelines relating to the Covid-19 vaccination and its suitability for them.
"We will continue to review the situation throughout the pandemic, but we understand that this is a personal choice. For any colleagues who have reservations about the Covid-19 vaccination, we would encourage them to talk to their medical practitioner.”
Meanwhile, Specsavers also has stores across the county in areas such as West Bridgford and Beeston, as wells as its corporate offices on the NG2 Business Park in Nottingham.
Similarly to Boots, they label getting the vaccine as a "matter of individual choice" and have confirmed no-one will be disciplined if they decide not to take it.
A Specsavers spokesperson told Nottinghamshire Live: "We fully support the vaccination programme, which will help keep our colleagues and customers safe and get our communities back on their feet.
"However, we firmly believe that deciding whether or not to have a vaccine is a matter of individual choice. No one will be disciplined or put at a disadvantage as a result of them choosing not to have a vaccine or being unable to."
Tribunals have previously upheld the right of employers to fire someone who is infectious but refuses to stay away from work.
However, the question of whether someone could be fired for refusing to have a vaccine has never been tested.
