Vaccination will be mandatory for every staff member of Central Coast Council, with each employee required to be vaccinated by January 9, 2022.
Staff received the news in an email sent on Friday.
Mandatory vaccination will apply to staff, contractors, work experience participants and volunteers.
In an attached list of FAQs (frequently asked questions), Council said if a person refuses to get vaccinated, Council will meet with that person to discuss next steps and “most likely this will begin a conversation relating to cessation of your employment”.
Medically exempt staff will be considered on an individual basis to determine if a safe working environment can be provided but Council is giving no guarantees.
“I understand that this decision may be confronting for some staff and the attached FAQs are designed to provide you with the understanding as to how the decision was arrived at and answer some top-of-mind questions,” CEO, David Farmer, said in the email.
“In advising staff now, this allows plenty of time for individuals to consider their options before the required vaccination date of January 9, 2022.”
The email went on to say that office-based staff were expected back in the office next year, transitioning from January 10.
“Staff will return to the office based on their neighbourhood locations and equipment set-up times, which will be advised over the next few weeks,” Farmer said.
“From December 6, 2021, some key front-facing services will return to the office, and other staff who are double vaccinated can also elect to return to the office at this time.
“From November 1, 2021, all office-based staff are able to apply for the “one day work from home” option which is our upfront commitment to flexibility.
“There is still a requirement to document these arrangements and we also recognise that not everyone will want to work from home, hence the need to apply,” Farmer said.
The email said staff will need to return all previously utilised Council equipment including IT equipment to Council premises.
A working from home set-up will be the responsibility of the staff member, should they wish to apply to work from home.
The email says the Council’s next steps include the formulation of a policy to support the vaccination decision and Council will work “closely with union representatives and staff to finalise this” over the coming weeks.
“In addition, whilst your GP is the best source of information and advice, Council will also be looking to connect staff with additional/supplementary information channels to help everyone become as informed as possible about vaccination,” the email said.
Luke Hutchinson from the United Services Union (USU) said it was a brave decision by Council to implement mandatory vaccination in its workforce.
“I’ve been having discussions with Council about their intentions for a period of time and we’ve raised a variety of issues, especially in relation to vaccine hesitancy and providing further supportive options for workers to consider,” he said.
“That includes Council getting independent advice from professional health services, as well as further extensions of time for people to be vaccinated and to gain information on what is best for them.”
In terms of someone losing their job if they refused to be vaccinated, Hutchinson said that would only be acceptable to the USU if all options had been considered to comply with the relevant health, work and safety standard, other than a reasonable medical issue.
“It’s a complicated issue and a highly emotive issue, but whichever way you look at it, there’s a serious health, work and safety issue and there’s some very clear obligations on the employer to provide a safe workplace and minimise any risk in the workplace.
“This could be a vexed industrial issue to resolve, based upon the Work, Health and Safety Act, but ultimately there’s an inherent risk that needs to be managed and needs to be minimised as far as practicable.
“As far as the USU is aware, no legal challenges, in any jurisdiction, have overturned a mandate in relation to vaccination of COVID-19,” Hutchinson said.
Merilyn Vale and Sue Murray