Workers told vaccination compulsory
"In all cases, our people are working in offices where they may mix with those who enter rest homes or healthcare facilities . . . The risk of exposure and transmission is high." Patrick Gamble.
Trust management company Perpetual Guardian will require both staff and visitors to be fully vaccinated before entering its offices.
The company, which employs about 250 staff, made the announcement via an email from chief executive Patrick Gamble.
In the email, Gamble said the mandate would take effect from November 30, at all offices around the country.
An internal survey showed 95 per cent of staff are either fully vaccinated or would be within the coming days.
“We have conducted a risk-based assessment for all roles within the group,” he said in the email.
“In all cases, our people are working in offices where they may mix with those who enter rest homes or healthcare facilities . . . The risk of exposure and transmission is high.
“We don’t believe we can reasonably mitigate that risk through social distancing etc, even if we mandated maskwearing etc in all offices at all times.”
Some other employers, including PWC and Russell Mcveagh, have also introduced strict vaccination requirements, while the Warehouse is considering whether to do so.
Asked what the mandate meant for staff who refused to get the vaccine, Gamble told the Weekend Herald they would have to work remotely, but conceded that this was not practical long-term.
“In the interests of honesty and transparency with our staff, we wanted to be upfront and say we don’t see working from home with zero office or client interaction as a viable long-term option within our business.
“Eventually, it will impact people’s ability to do their job, and it is also unfair to ask those who are vaccinated to take a larger share of healthcare facility visits — and the potential risks those may involve — to allow us to carry staff who are not prepared to vaccinate.
“We will work through a careful consultation process with any such staff members.”