With the COVID-19 vaccination rolling out across Australia, many employers are asking, “can I require staff to get the COVID-19 vaccination?” To help you understand your rights and obligations as an Australian employer, we have put together some information.
Firstly, can I require staff to get the COVID-19 vaccination?
In line with advice from the Fair Work Ombudsman, you need to consider a few things first.
- There are currently no laws or public health orders in Australia that enable employers to require their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccination. The Australian Government’s policy is that receiving a vaccination is voluntary.
- Based on the above point, the overwhelming majority of employers should assume mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations will not be enforceable.
- There are, however, limited circumstances where this may not be the case. Whether an employer can require employees to get the vaccination against coronavirus is highly fact-dependent and depends on your specific workplace and employee circumstances.
The key takeaway? This is a complex situation, especially given there are no laws or public health orders in place. If you are considering making coronavirus vaccinations mandatory in your workplace, seek professional HR and legal advice.
Where can I find more information about the COVID-19 vaccination in the workplace?
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccination and the workplace, please view the below free resources.
- Click here to view a discussion paper on the introduction of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations (AHRI).
- Click here to visit the Fair Work web page about COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace.
Do you need to chat with a HR professional? Get in touch with Lisa at lisa@classicrecruitment.net.au or Nick at nick@classicrecruitment.net.au, or call (07) 46383599.