Majority of Aussie employees want workplace to mandate Covid vaccines

The no jab, no job policy is gaining huge support among employees, who don’t want to be close to an unvaxxed colleague.

Aussie staff are eager for employers to mandate the Covid-19 vaccine in their workplace, amid fears about being close to unvaccinated colleagues.

More companies are coming out and making it compulsory for their employees to be double jabbed including Qantas, Telstra, fruit and vegetable giant SPC, Crown Casinos and airline Virgin.

New research has shown that 70 per cent of Aussies want to see their employers making the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory in the workplace, up from 62 per cent in June.

In a looming challenge for employers preparing to welcome back workers, there has been a huge leap in workers uncomfortable about working alongside unvaccinated colleagues. It has climbed to 58 per cent, up by 14 per cent from just three months ago.

The research comes from the September quarterly ­employee sentiment index survey, which was commissioned by workplace software company Elmo.

Aussies are also comfortable with their employer knowing their Covid-19 vaccination and test status, with 88 per cent supporting the measures.

Vaccination passports have also been welcomed by Australian workers with four in five workers backing them.

People also support their employers knowing their vaccine status. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Elmo Software CEO Danny Lessem said employers need to take heed of the message being sent by working Australians.

“When it comes to working with the virus, Australian workers are supportive of their employer introducing tough measures to keep the workplace safe. Whether it’s mandating vaccinations or tracking vaccination and test status, the great majority of workers are on board,” he said.

“A tough challenge is emerging for employers. The proportion of workers uncomfortable working alongside unvaccinated colleagues has climbed to 58 per cent of the workforce.”

Elmo CEO Danny Lessem said there is a tough challenge looming for Aussie employers. Picture: Supplied

Changes to workplace layouts

It comes as unions have warned employers that changes to workplace layouts and ventilation will be required as people look to return to the office.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has advised health and safety representatives that workplaces should take steps to reduce airborne transmission of the virus including opening windows or doors, pumping fresh air into buildings via air-conditioning units, and using air purifiers.

It also recommended changes to the layout of office spaces or the way work is done to reduce the time people spend in close proximity with each other.

ACTU secretary Sally Mc­Manus said employers have a legal responsibility to make the workplace safe, including identifying hazards such as “abusive customers” and ‘hazardous materials”.

“Vaccination is the best defence, but it can’t do the job on its own,” reported The Australian.

“To keep transmission out of workplaces, ventilation and social distancing are also needed.

“Employers and workers need to work together to ensure all that can be done is put in place when workplaces reopen.”

Having hand sanitiser in the workplace isn’t the only thing that will be necessary. Picture: Mark Stewart

The legal side

Clyde & Co law firm managing partner Michael Tooma said the general arguments that mandatory vaccination results in discrimination or violates freedom of choice did not stack up.

He said both the public health orders and businesses initiatives that have made vaccinations mandatory recognised the need for an exemption in circumstances where someone can’t medically get jabbed.

“I am aware of certain pro forma letters that people are encouraged to provide to their employer alleging that employer initiatives or the implementation by the employer of the public health order amounts to an economic coercion or economic duress and the effect is to remove the person’s ability to consent, but with that respect, that approach misses the point,” Mr Tooma told news.com.au.

“There is no such coercion. It is simply a requirement in relation to the inherent preconditions of performing work and these are inherent requirements of performing work safely.”

Mr Tooma warned businesses that when the economy starts to open up they risk legal challenges if they don’t have a vaccination policy in place, particularly as double-jabbed staff may have a right to refuse to do work in close proximity to the unvaxxed.