The Government have announced a mandatory requirement for all workers to be vaccinated where they work in a business where customer vaccination certificates are required. This includes hospitality businesses and event operations.
Announced by Government:
- Vaccination will be required for all workers at businesses where customers need to show COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates.
- A new simplified risk assessment process for employers to follow when deciding whether they can require vaccination for different types of work will be produced.
- Non-vaccinated workers must be provided with a four-week notice period, allowing them time to get vaccinated, before employment can be terminated.
- Employers will be required to provide paid time off for workers to get vaccinated and will need to keep records about workers’ vaccination status.
The timing of this coming into force will depend on when we move to the COVID-19 Protection Framework but the Government have indicated they will have robust guidance for businesses ready well in advance.
This is a tricky new area of employment law and vaccination mandates for workers will present challenges. However, in our member discussions concerns have been raised around enforcing a policy that could make employers liable for discrimination on the basis of vaccination status and this mandate provides a necessary legal framework.