UPDATE - COVID-19 VACCINATION: WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS – IN SUMMARY

On Friday, August 13 the Fair Work Ombudsman updated its advice in relation to the issue of COVID vaccination and the workplace. This topic has become quite controversial over recent weeks and looks to be posing businesses with significant issues going forward.

The Australian Government (Federal) position is that receiving the vaccination is free and voluntary, however it concurrently aims to encourage as many people as possible to be vaccinated.

An issue which may also bring further uncertainty is that the majority of our workers are employed under the Federal Fair Work legislation and each of the States has adopted varying approaches to the vaccine under their enacted Health legislation. So, the intersection of each of these States laws and how they interplay with the Federal Government employment law needs to be considered.

Managing Vaccinations in the Workplace

Many employers are considering introducing workplace policies. Many workplaces are covered by an agreement or an