Club staf f abused over passport ‘shambles’
SCOTLAND’S vaccine passport scheme has triggered an avalanche of abuse against bar and club staff, industry chiefs have claimed.
The vast majority of late-night bar and club operators say that employees have suffered abuse since vaccine passports were brought in.
A survey of 283 operators by the Scottish Hospitality Group found that eight out of ten said staff had experienced abuse from customers who did not have proof of vaccination.
Just over half of operators said the number of customers visiting their premises was down by approximately 35 per cent.
Industry bosses said that some abuse came as a result of customers not knowing which premises were affected by vaccine passports.
They also said workers had signed off sick or quit as a consequence.
The survey revealed 91 per cent said staff felt under pressure or experienced more stress because of the policy, while 90 per cent said they were concerned about the impact of Covid certification if it continues over Christmas and New Year.
Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group, said: ‘These findings show this is a policy most people cannot deal with at the moment because it is not ready.
‘We need to get the messaging right across the public that vaccine certification being required in nightclubs is not just nightclubs as we know it per se, it is everybody after midnight [with music and dancing].
‘Please don’t take it out on us – we are only doing what we are told and what we legally have to do.
‘And if we don’t do it we are going to end up possibly with enforcement, which could end up in us losing our licences.’
Mr Montgomery said that not enough consideration has been given to the policy’s impact on the staff who have to enforce it.
He said: ‘For anybody to suffer abuse because of a policy introduced by government, legally enforceable by us, is unfair. We are getting abuse at the sharp end and taking the flak for government. We didn’t want this but we will do anything we can to mitigate for the health and safety of staff and customers.’
He also highlighted the ‘nonsensical’ detail of the policy which means that a venue could have to enforce vaccine passports in one room where a wedding anniversary is held but not in another room with a wedding reception, as they are exempt.
Scottish Conservative Covid recovery spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘It’s entirely predictable that the SNP’s shambolic vaccine passport scheme has led to hospitality workers being subjected to abuse.
‘No one should have to face this kind of intimidation at work, no matter the circumstances.
‘The SNP Government have left struggling businesses to bear the brunt of enforcing their policy, and have failed to provide support or guidance for staff facing abuse as a result of it.’
He said it was ‘unacceptable that workers should carry the can for an unpopular, ill-conceived policy that should be abandoned’.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Covid-19 certification is a proportionate way of encouraging people to get vaccinated, and also of helping large events and night-time hospitality to keep operating during what will potentially be a very difficult winter.
‘This means many businesses will not have to close and can continue to trade whilst making necessary adjustments to ensure their premises are as safe as possible for staff and customers.
‘Officials continue to engage regularly with the sector to discuss implementation of the scheme.’
‘Please don’t take it out on us’