SPC is the first Australian company to mandate all staff be vaccinated by the end of November. Its decision follows a growing trend around the world as new variants of COVID-19 such as Delta cause further waves of the pandemic.
All SPC employees, including casual and permanent staff as well as contractors, must have at least the first dose of the vaccine scheduled by 15 September, with the first dose administered by the end of October.
Any visitors to an SPC site will also be required to be vaccinated.
All staff will be aided and offered compensation via paid time off when required to receive their vaccinations as well as special paid leave of up to 2 days for any staff who may become unwell after vaccination.
For those with a pre-existing condition and are unable to receive the vaccine their circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
SPC chair Hussein Rifai said the company’s leadership team and board recognised the significant threat of the virus to its employees, the community and the business.
“Lockdowns are not a sustainable solution and the Australian economy needs to open up again. The only path forward for our country is through vaccination,” Hussein said.
SPC CEO Robert Giles said companies had to go further in ensuring employee safety and business continuity by rapidly vaccinating their staff
“Taking proactive steps now means we are shoring up our Company for the future. We firmly believe that it will be manufacturers and innovators like SPC who will help drive Australia’s post-COVID economic recovery,” Giles said.
The company said a fully vaccinated workforce ensures SPC can continue to deliver an essential service while helping Australia return to an open economy in line with the Prime Minister’s four-point plan out of COVID.
Union consternation
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) said SPC failed to properly consult with the union over the demand, adding the company was required by law to consult on any planned major change to health and safety.
AMWU assistant state secretary Victoria (Food and Confectionery Division) Jason Hefford said the union backed vaccination but that such a call for mandatory vaccinations needed to come with proper consultation.
That SPC was offering paid vaccination leave was a positive step, but there were broader questions around timeline and banning workers lacks proper consultation, he said.
Hefford said: “The issue isn’t people’s willingness to get the vaccine, it’s accessibility. The responsibility for the Morrison Government’s failing rollout shouldn’t be shifted onto the shoulders of working people.
“If workers are expected to get jabs in their arms, then we need to ensure the true barriers are removed.
“Mandating vaccination in workplaces needs to be based on the advice of health professionals and a proper risk assessment – not just a poorly consulted plan by bosses.”
Giles said the AMWU’s claims were baseless and called on the union to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with SPC to protect employees and ensure a safe work environment.
“The health and safety of our employees remain our number one priority. We reject the AMWU’s claims, we alerted both our staff and the union yesterday in line with our legal requirements.
The AMWU said SPC’s timeline was unrealistic, saying some employees were still not eligible or otherwise unable to access the vaccine.
Giles said SPC was looking at “all options” including a pop-up clinic to make it as easy as possible for staff. A vaccination hub was “around the corner” from the SPC facility, he said.
“We will continue to consult with staff on a case-by-case basis to make it as easy as possible for our staff to get vaccinated by the deadline,” Giles said.
