Covid-19 vaccination requirement at workplaces: What do small businesses need to know
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood has announced today new vaccination assessment tool that will be made available to businesses to ensure new vaccination requirements for staffs and employees are met.
“We’ve developed a tool to help clarify what work should be covered by vaccinated workers and to create a simple and clear tool for assessing when it is reasonable to require vaccination for other work,” Minister Wood said.
“This tool provides a clear, legal framework to help businesses make decisions about vaccinations in the workplace. It builds on the guidance provided by WorkSafe and has had input from BusinessNZ and the CTU. The tool will specify four key factors, at least three of which must be met, before it would be reasonable to require vaccination for particular work,” Wood said.
Four key factors, out of which three must be met by businesses
Vaccination will be required for all workers at businesses that must use My Vaccine Passes to operate or have the option of using My Vaccine Passes to operate with fewer restrictions.
This includes in general businesses in hospitality, events, gatherings, close contact businesses and gyms.
- What type of environment does the worker work in?
Any businesses that operate in 100 square meter indoor space or greater, or outside will be considered Low Risk. All businesses that are operating with less than 100 square meter indoor space will be considered High Risk.
- How close does the person work to other people?
The second criteria or factor that will shape the outcome of new assessment tool is how close people (staffs) operate vis-à-vis other staff members or customers. Businesses where people are comfortably placed 1 meter apart will be considered of Low Risk while the others will be considered High Risk.
- How long is the worker in proximity to other people?
The businesses where maximum time of close contact or exposure to other staffs and customers is less than 15 minutes will be considered Low Risk, while more time-exposure will be considered High Risk
- Does the worker provide services to people who are vulnerable to COVID-19?
Workplaces where staffs provide direct services to people vulnerable to Covid-19 will be considered of High Risk.
What does this mean for businesses?
If three out of the above four conditions are met (high risk) then businesses can legally ask their staffs and employees to get Covid-19 vaccination.
However, they will have to provide a reasonable time and support to their employees who are still not vaccinated and are mulling upon the decision to get vaccinated.
To continue doing work in these areas, workers will need to have their first vaccination by the day that the COVID-19 Protection Framework comes into effect, which will be Friday December 3. These workers will need to be fully vaccinated by 17 January 2022 to continue doing that work.
Non-vaccinated employees doing work that requires vaccination (either under mandates or an employer requirement) will be given a new four-week paid notice period if their employment agreements are terminated. This gives these employees a final chance to get vaccinated before their employment agreements are terminated. This change is part of amendments being made this week to the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood has announced today new vaccination assessment tool that will be made available to businesses to ensure new vaccination requirements for staffs and employees are met.
“We’ve developed a tool to help clarify what work should be covered by...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood has announced today new vaccination assessment tool that will be made available to businesses to ensure new vaccination requirements for staffs and employees are met.
“We’ve developed a tool to help clarify what work should be covered by vaccinated workers and to create a simple and clear tool for assessing when it is reasonable to require vaccination for other work,” Minister Wood said.
“This tool provides a clear, legal framework to help businesses make decisions about vaccinations in the workplace. It builds on the guidance provided by WorkSafe and has had input from BusinessNZ and the CTU. The tool will specify four key factors, at least three of which must be met, before it would be reasonable to require vaccination for particular work,” Wood said.
Four key factors, out of which three must be met by businesses
Vaccination will be required for all workers at businesses that must use My Vaccine Passes to operate or have the option of using My Vaccine Passes to operate with fewer restrictions.
This includes in general businesses in hospitality, events, gatherings, close contact businesses and gyms.
- What type of environment does the worker work in?
Any businesses that operate in 100 square meter indoor space or greater, or outside will be considered Low Risk. All businesses that are operating with less than 100 square meter indoor space will be considered High Risk.
- How close does the person work to other people?
The second criteria or factor that will shape the outcome of new assessment tool is how close people (staffs) operate vis-à-vis other staff members or customers. Businesses where people are comfortably placed 1 meter apart will be considered of Low Risk while the others will be considered High Risk.
- How long is the worker in proximity to other people?
The businesses where maximum time of close contact or exposure to other staffs and customers is less than 15 minutes will be considered Low Risk, while more time-exposure will be considered High Risk
- Does the worker provide services to people who are vulnerable to COVID-19?
Workplaces where staffs provide direct services to people vulnerable to Covid-19 will be considered of High Risk.
What does this mean for businesses?
If three out of the above four conditions are met (high risk) then businesses can legally ask their staffs and employees to get Covid-19 vaccination.
However, they will have to provide a reasonable time and support to their employees who are still not vaccinated and are mulling upon the decision to get vaccinated.
To continue doing work in these areas, workers will need to have their first vaccination by the day that the COVID-19 Protection Framework comes into effect, which will be Friday December 3. These workers will need to be fully vaccinated by 17 January 2022 to continue doing that work.
Non-vaccinated employees doing work that requires vaccination (either under mandates or an employer requirement) will be given a new four-week paid notice period if their employment agreements are terminated. This gives these employees a final chance to get vaccinated before their employment agreements are terminated. This change is part of amendments being made this week to the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.
Leave a Comment