Waikato District Council announces workforce vaccination policy

Following a two-week consultation with its staff, Waikato District Council has announced a new approach to vaccinations for its workforce and visitors to its corporate offices.

With immediate effect council will require employees, and a range of others, who work in its facilities, offices, or out in the field to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to carry out their roles.

Staff will have until 31 January 2022 to comply with the requirement but will not be able to enter council workplaces in the meantime unless they are fully vaccinated.

Visitors to the council’s corporate offices will also need to show proof of vaccination.

Waikato District Council Chief Executive Gavin Ion says, “The risk assessment we carried out across all areas of our organisation told us that the inherent risk posed to our people while carrying out their duties was too high if we did not include vaccination as one of our controls, alongside all other control measures that are available to us.”

“Our council vision is to build liveable, thriving and connected communities and we believe that implementing this policy for the protection of our people, their whanau, our customers and communities, remains the most important part of us being able to achieve this vision in the world that we now find ourselves living in”.

During the consultation, the council heard from around half of its workforce. Of those who responded, 74 per cent agreed with the proposal, 20 per cent disagreed and a further 6 per cent were unsure.

Mr. Ion said it was important for the organisation to hear from the staff on this proposed way forward and the overwhelming feedback that came through the consultation process supported the approach.

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.

ENDS

For more information please contact:
Emma Edgar
Communications, Marketing & Engagement Manager
Waikato District Council
communications@waidc.govt.nz