NEW GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS! The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has released a COVID Winter Guide to assist with managing COVID-19 in workplaces over winter. ACCI has set out this guide to address the key health, safety and employment issues winter may bring for workplaces.
In 2021, ACCI released a COVID-19 Vaccination & the Workplace Employer Guide.
Businesses are already playing a vital role in helping their staff to get vaccinated. Employers can communicate, encourage and support their workforce to get vaccinated by providing employees with access to reliable and accurate information about the vaccine and where employees can get vaccinated.
Five things employers can do now:
- Communicate, encourage and support your workforce to get vaccinated by providing employees with access to reliable and accurate information about the vaccine and where employees can get vaccinated.
- Assist your employees to get vaccinated where possible by being as flexible as you can be when it comes to staff getting the vaccine. For some employers this could include things like allowing employees time off or moving around shifts to allow employees to attend vaccination appointments.
- Have sensible conversations with your workforce. While some employers may need to consider mandating vaccinations, all employers should have sensible conversations with their workforce about how the workplace will be approaching vaccinations and ensuring all staff are kept safe.
- Keep accurate and up to date records. Employers can legally ask staff about their vaccination status, though it is up to inidividual employees as to whether they choose to share this information or not. If an employee chooses to disclose their vaccination status, all employers should know and understand their privacy obligations in relation to the collection, use and disclose of this sensitive health information.
- Continue to take preventative measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the workplace. Employers have legal obligation under WHS Law to as far as is reasonably practicable to ensure the health and safety of workers in the workplace. Employers should continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.