Malaysian companies plan to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for all employees

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian companies plan to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for all employees, according to Employment Hero’s latest survey.

Employment Hero, the leading people, payroll and benefits solution for small to medium-sized businesses, released its global report, examining the impact of Covid19 on business owners and employees.

The survey which included more than 1,000 Malaysian employers and employees found that 70 per cent of Malaysian businesses would mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for all their staff.

Employees, too, appear to be on board, with 76 per cent agreeing to accept the vaccine, and only seven per cent saying they would refuse to take the vaccine.

Of all the countries surveyed on the subject, Malaysian employers show the highest level of compulsory vaccination intent, versus employers in Australia (33 per cent), the UK (33 per cent), and New Zealand (35 per cent).

Despite high levels of acceptance of vaccinations among the Malaysian workforce, the uncertainty of vaccine rollout timelines leaves many hesitant about returning to the office anytime soon, with only 29 per cent of Malaysian employees and 31 per cent of Malaysian employers expecting to return to the office in the next six months.

As such, Malaysian employers are considering long-term remote or flexible working models to safeguard their workforce from continued restrictions and risks.

As many as 32 per cent of Malaysian employers anticipate their teams to continue working remotely or flexibly, and just as many said they would allow more geographic and work hour flexibility.

However, with the future of work still uncertain, stress levels amongst Malaysian employees (61 per cent) and Malaysian employers (58 per cent) have risen, but many employees (47 per cent) don’t feel comfortable discussing their mental health with superiors.

“The mental-health fallout of Covid-19 in the workforce needs more attention,” Employment Hero chief executive officer and co-founder Ben Thompson said.

“The workplace is an important environment to discuss mental health, but because of the stigma attached to it and the fear of job losses, many people are continuing to suffer in silence.”

“Employers have the opportunity to change this climate by making mental wellbeing a business priority.

“Providing employees with the right resources, supportive leadership, and taking a customised approach to mental health are great first steps.”