Netflix is set to make Covid vaccinations mandatory for key cast and crew on US TV and film productions.

According to reports, the US streaming company will require that "zone A" personnel - actors and crew in close contact with them - must get the jab.

It is understood Netflix is considering a implementing similar policy in the UK.

Other firms such as Google have said workers must get vaccinated before returning to the office.

The policy will begin at Google's US campuses and then be rolled out globally for its 144,000 employees.

Netflix has implemented the move after new standards were recently agreed between Hollywood unions and studios that would allow companies to implement mandatory vaccination policies for key cast members and crew.

However, the actor Sean Penn wants the policy extended for all members of production, not just those classed as "zone A".

He recently said that he would not return to work on the drama Gaslit, which is backed by the studio NBC Universal, unless all cast and crew receive the jab.

Actor Sean Penn
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image captionActor Sean Penn wants all cast and crew on his latest production, Gaslit, to be vaccinated against Covid
Netflix is making the move after the US Disease Control and Prevention announced earlier this week that masks will once again have to be worn indoors even by people who have been fully vaccinated.

It follows a spike in Covid cases due to the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said in a blog post that "anyone coming to work on our campuses will need to be vaccinated".

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How the policy is implemented "will vary according to local conditions and regulations, and will not apply until vaccines are widely available in your area", he said.

In addition, Google will extend the full reopening of its global campuses from 1 September to 18 October due to a spike in cases caused by the Delta variant of coronavirus.

People in special circumstances can apply to work from home until the end of 2021.

However, any Google employee can apply to work from home permanently if they choose, and transfer offices.

Google expects that over time in any given week, 60% of employees will work in the office for a few days each week, one-fifth will be working in new office locations and another fifth will be working from home.

Many firms are weighing up the pros and cons of letting their workforce continue to work from home.

Others have also specified that workers coming into the office need to be vaccinated.

In June, Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury said staff must have vaccinations ahead of their return to the workplace.

"The simple fact is that this virus is still extremely dangerous," it said.

In the US, JP Morgan said in June that it would instruct staff to log their vaccination status on an internal web portal, with fully-jabbed employees being allowed to discard face masks at work.

Goldman Sachs bankers also have to disclose how many jabs they have had before returning to the office.

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Netflix US cast and crew must be vaccinated to work

A legal action seeking damages of up to £920m from Google on behalf of 19.5 million UK Android phone users has been launched.

It claims the 30% cut Google takes from digital purchases on its app store is excessive and unfair.

The case follows a similar one launched on behalf of iPhone users in May.

Google said it competed "vigorously and fairly" for developers and consumers and its fees were "comparable to our competitors".

Most Android phones came pre-loaded with more than one app store.

And 97% of developers paid no service fee because their apps were free.

"This lawsuit ignores the benefits and choice Android and Google Play provide as well as the competitive market in which we operate," it said.

Massive row
Google recently cut its service charge to 15% for all developers earning less than £1m, with only a tiny fraction of the most profitable app developers paying 30%.

The charge "allows us to constantly reinvest in building a secure, thriving platform that benefits everyone who uses it", it added.

But both Apple and Google's charges have come under intense public scrutiny, following a massive row with Epic Games and subsequent legal action.

Epic argued the Play Store and Apple's app store were monopolistic and is seeking the ability to place Fortnite on both, with an independent payment-processing system.

This UK legal action alleges:

Google broke European and UK competition laws with the 30% surcharge and as a result is overcharging millions of app users who make purchases via the Play Store.
because Google bundles the Play Store with other products and requires pre-installation of it, consumers have little alternative but to pay the charges set out by Google
The claim has been filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), by former Citizens Advice consumer-policy lead Liz Coll.

The CAT has allowed "collective actions" - similar to US-style class-action cases - subject to initial approval, since 2015.

They differ from normal legal cases in that all affected people are automatically covered unless they decide to exclude themselves.

Ms Coll said: "Google created the Android app marketplace and controls it with a vice-like grip.

"Customers are herded towards the Google Play Store and, once there, have no option but to pay a 30% fee whenever they buy an app or make an in-app purchase.

"Competing app stores, which could give the same service at a fraction of the price, never get a look in."

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Google app charges targeted by mass legal claim

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