Have you Considered Incentivising Covid-19 Vaccinations in your Workplace?
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Recent research undertaken by Indeed has revealed that 48% of employees say they are likely to get vaccinated if it is offered and/or rewarded by their workplace yet only 1 in 3 workplaces have begun conversation with staff about vaccinations.
Whilst we are a long way from employers considering mandatory vaccinations without government directives, employers should certainly be encouraging their workforce to receive the covid vaccination.
Does it make good business sense to incentivise vaccinations?
For years, many employers have rolled out flu vaccination programs across their businesses because it makes good business sense: staff are receiving a wellbeing benefit, and the business reaps the outcome of reduced absenteeism, and a happier, healthier workforce.
Covid-19 takes this to a whole new level. As we have seen,
one case of Covid-19 in a workplace has the ability to shut a workplace down.
even if the workplace is not shut down, exposed workers will be at great risk and unable to attend work for up to 14 days.
workers who are exposed outside the workplace, may have to isolate for 14 days.
workers who contract the virus may be off work for many weeks.
community transmission has the ability to shut down whole industries.
It makes sense that employers would want high vaccination rates to protect their staff, their customers and their livelihood.
How can businesses encourage vaccination?
The study from Indeed revealed that 46% of employees say they would be motivated to receive the vaccine if offered leave in the case of any adverse effects, and another 46% say a monetary bonus would motivate them to get vaccinated.
Monetary incentives may not be commercially viable for many employers however, the introduction of special leave could be advantageous.
While employers have no obligation to approve paid leave for the purpose of getting vaccinations many employers are seeing this as best practice. You can:
Grant ‘special leave’ for the purpose of getting the covid vaccine (most employers are offering 2-3 hours per occasion).
Allow employees to use their personal leave.
Of course, if an employee experiences adverse side affects and cannot work after receiving the vaccine they will be entitled to paid sick leave where available.