Rotorua Lakes Council to introduce workplace vaccination mandate
17 December 2021
From Monday 17 January 2022, Rotorua Lakes Council will require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Employees are required to show proof of their first vaccination by Monday 20 December.
Council chief executive Geoff Williams says while it was not an easy decision to make, the mandate is about the organisation providing a safe and healthy workplace for staff, and doing all it can to protect the community.
“Our workplace risk assessment showed that staff across all areas of our organisation were at risk of contracting COVID-19, even when other safety measures were in place. It is clear from all the information available that vaccination, when used in conjunction with other risk mitigations (physical distancing, maintaining good hygiene practices and wearing a face covering), provides the best means of protecting our people in the workplace from COVID-19.”
A week-long consultation process was held earlier this month and close to one-third of staff provided feedback, with the majority in support of the proposal.
“It was important that we involved staff in this process, and their feedback from the consultation has been valuable in helping shape our policy.”
The vaccine mandate also extends to contractors, temporary staff and volunteers performing work for Council or who are present in the workplace or engaging with council employees through the course of their work.
The policy will be reviewed and adjusted as needed, to reflect up-to-date public health advice and any new requirements introduced by the Government.
Under the current Red traffic light settings, all visitors to Council sites aged over 12 years and three months must present a vaccine pass. This requirement will also be in place when Rotorua moves to the Orange traffic light setting at 11.59pm on Thursday 30 December.
“Vaccine passes are required at our Council sites, and for members of our community who are not vaccinated, there are other ways to access Council services.
“It’s critical that Council does its part to keep our workforce and our community safe, as well as continue to deliver core services to the Rotorua district.”
Information about how Council services and venues are operating in the traffic light settings is HERE.