Companies want to buy vaccines for employees
WITH the expanding availability of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines, a growing number of employers and business establishments around the country have expressed their interest to purchase the same for the inoculation of their employees and their dependents, according to a survey.
A joint vaccination effort survey conducted by the Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW) and People on Management Association of the Philippines on 250 human resources practitioners showed that two-thirds or 65 percent already arranged, or are in the process
of arranging, the purchase of vaccines on their employees’ behalf.
There are around 937,554 small, medium and big business establishments around the country and almost 31 million formal-sector employees.
The survey also showed that of the employers who are yet to start the process of purchasing the vaccines, 58 percent are considering doing so, while the rest or 42 percent have no plans to purchase the vaccines.
Of the 250 respondents, 60 percent indicated that they are working to procure vaccines for the dependents of their employees.
Among those who had not started the process yet, 52 percent are considering procuring the vaccines for their dependents, while almost half or 48 percent are not.
In addition, 60 percent of the respondents have also indicated that they are working on the procurement of vaccines for the dependents of their employees.
When procuring or facilitating the purchase of the vaccine for employees’ dependents, over half of the respondents have indicated that these would include spouses, parents of single employees and children, all of whom are residing with their employees.
Over 40 percent plan to include the parents of married employees, siblings of single employees and anyone residing within the household of their employees.
When considering the procurement of vaccines for their employees, 68 percent of companies said they would fully pay for these vaccines.
One in 10 or 11 percent indicated that they would subsidize the cost, but not shoulder a 100 percent payment.
A small proportion or 7 percent said the company’s financial support would be limited to a segment of their employees’ population.
Among these, 50 percent said they would pay for the vaccines for permanent employees only.
As for dependents and/or household members, the vast majority or 71 percent of companies would pass on the full cost to their employees.
For companies that are considering procurement, 70 percent of employers have indicated that they are running a survey to determine the number of employees who are interested in being vaccinated.
The Covid-19 Vaccination Efforts Survey was conducted in February 2021.
It reflected responses from 250 HR practitioners around the country..
‘No vaccination, no work’
Meanwhile, organized labor on Tuesday sought the intervention of the Department of Labor and Employment over the emerging mandatory “no vaccination, no work” policy that some employers and business establishments plan to impose to ensure workers’ optimum productivity in the light of government plan to fully open the economy to spur recovery.
The Associated Labor Unions (ALU), said the mandatory workplace policy is a form of coercion and discrimination that violates the right of workers to freely decide and choose for themselves, particularly with regard to their health and well-being
“Before it becomes a norm, the Department of Labor and Employment must respond quickly to these surfacing abuses and provide immediate protection measures by outlawing these unfair and unjust treatment of employees.” it added.
Complaints reaching the labor union said the workers were told by their superiors in advance that they would be disallowed to report to work unless they participate in company- sponsored Covid-19 vaccination activities.
It added that other business owners have already given instructions to supervisors and managers to deem reluctant employees as unfit to work.
Another group of employees said they have been told that they would be asked to present a certification as proof they have been inoculated with Covid-19 vaccine before they are allowed to work.
Employers also forewarned their employees with reassignment and relocation to other branches if they would not participate in the company-sponsored immunization program. Others would be put on furlough or floating status until they are injected with the vaccine.
“The ALU is advocating the vaccination of all workers and pushing for the prioritization of essential workers to be inoculated with safe and effective vaccines to safely reopen our economy but these arbitrary actions taken by abusive employers are audacious acts of direct discrimination and straightforward coercion, “ALU national executive vice president Gerard Seno said.
“Employees, either in private or in government, must never ever be subjected to any compulsion. The decision of any person not be vaccinated should be respected in the same way we respect those who have taken the vaccine,” he added.