Qantas mandates full Covid-19 vaccination for all its employees
Qantas will require all of its employees to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, as debate about mandatory vaccination in Australian workplaces intensifies.
By 15 November, all frontline employees, including cabin crew, pilots and airport workers, will need to be fully vaccinated. All remaining employees will have until 31 March 2022 to get vaccinated.
The vaccine mandate applies to all employees of Qantas and its budget carrier Jetstar.
The airline said there would be exemptions for employees who are unable to be vaccinated for documented medical reasons but said it expected this cohort to be “very rare”.
Qantas Group’s chief executive, Alan Joyce, told reporters vaccination is a requirement “for all our aviation and office workers” but those with medical exemptions will be accommodated with measures including social distancing, masks and testing.
“If other employees decided they’re not taking the jab, then they’re deciding that aviation isn’t the area for them,” Joyce said, confirming their employment will be terminated.
Joyce, who has previously announced vaccine passports will be a requirement for passengers when Qantas resumes international travel flights, said that “no decision has been made” about requiring domestic passengers to be vaccinated.
“We know that a lot of organisations out there are looking at the requirement, like sporting events and restaurants in Australia, and we could see around the rest of the world this is starting to become a requirement.”
Joyce noted that Western Australia and Queensland had announced plans to require vaccination for entry.
The vaccination policy was announced after Qantas surveyed 12,000 employees – about 60% of its Australian-based workforce. The consultation found that 89% had already been vaccinated or planned to be, and that about 75% of staff said they thought mandatory vaccines should be a requirement.
About 4% of the airline’s staff were unwilling or unable to get vaccinated for Covid-19.
A separate survey of 1,000 Qantas customers found that 92% expected their crew to be fully vaccinated.
In a statement, Joyce said: “Having a fully vaccinated workforce will safeguard our people against the virus but also protect our customers and the communities we fly to.
“One crew member can fly into multiple cities and come into contact with thousands of people in a single day. Making sure they are vaccinated given the potential of this virus to spread is so important and I think it’s the kind of safety leadership people would expect from us.”
“It’s clear that vaccinations are the only way to end the cycle of lockdowns and border closures.”
The Transport Workers Union national secretary, Michael Kaine, said the decision was “mystifying” given Qantas’ own survey showed vaccine hesitancy was “very low”.
Kaine said the mandate was “counterproductive” because it would be a “lightning rod for discontent” and give a “soapbox for those with irrational concerns” about the vaccine.
At the press conference, Joyce revealed Qantas had asked for vaccination to be made mandatory across the aviation industry but the federal government had left public health orders to each state.
Scott Morrison has ruled out further public health orders to compel workers to get vaccinated, saying it would amount to a mandatory vaccination program “by stealth”, but released advice suggesting it is legal for companies to direct their staff where
“reasonable” to do so.
On Wednesday, Morrison said Qantas’ position was “reasonable” and the direction “fair and well intentioned”, citing the company’s consultation with its staff.
“There are certain circumstances where this may be necessary and companies will move in those areas,” he said, endorsing employer-lead mandates.
At the beginning of August Qantas stood down a further 2,500 domestic staff, on top of the 6,000 international staff in the same position.
On Wednesday Joyce said vaccinations were needed to ensure workers could return to their jobs, and this point had been touched on by staff in the survey.
“Even with thousands of our people stood down [support for mandatory vaccinations] shows just how important this is for them.
“Many of our people said they would feel concerned about working with unvaccinated colleagues, which is something that many workplaces across the country are grappling with.
“We understand there will be a very small number of people who decide not to get the vaccine, and that’s their right, but it’s our responsibility to provide the safest possible environment for our employees and for our customers.”
Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Qantas’s move follows the canned fruit producer SPC announcing this month it would mandate vaccines for its workers. There were reports of threats against the company in the aftermath.
On Wednesday the industrial relations minister, Michaelia Cash, convened a meeting of union and employer groups to discuss the vaccination rollout.
Guardian Australia understands Cash continued to resist unions’ push for paid vaccine leave, although some employer groups like the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia are now encouraging members to offer it.
After the meeting, the Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary, Sally McManus, said there was “very broad agreement … the best way to get Australian workers vaccinated is through cooperation and consultation, not conflict”.
The Australian Industry Group chief Innes Willox responded that although mandating vaccines “will not be appropriate in all workplaces, it will be for some”.
Employers pushed for indemnity for encouraging or incentivising staff to be vaccinated after the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry warned even this could open them up to workers’ compensation claims.
Safe Work Australia agreed to produce a template or checklist for employers about what steps they need to take for a Covid-safe workplace.
ACCI chief executive, Andrew McKellar, told Guardian Australia employers want WHS regulators to urgently issue statements of intent that employers will not be sued for failing to mandate vaccination.