Major brokerage and underwriting network, AUB Group has announced its position on COVID-19 vaccinations for staff. The new policy will require employees who come into the North Sydney office to be fully vaccinated.
In a statement responding to questions from Insurance Business, AUB said, “staff working for the AUB Group should only attend our offices or interact in person with clients once they have been fully vaccinated.”
Sydney staff who aren’t vaccinated when the lockdown ends will be given the option of working their full five-day week remotely.
AUB’s partial or in-office mandate is likely the strongest pro-vaccination stance adopted so far by a major Australian insurance industry player.
Some big insurance companies, like IAG, have voiced public support for vaccinations but ruled out mandates. Others have declined to comment on the issue.
A spokesperson for AUB said the new policy is designed to encourage more staff to get vaccinated and to deal with occupational health and safety concerns around the threat of a COVID-19 outbreak in the workplace.
The AUB statement said the company respects the right of an individual to decide on their own medical treatment, including whether they choose to be vaccinated.
“We do not believe this should compromise the health and safety of others,” it continued.
At this stage the policy applies to AUB’s 300 staff at the head office in North Sydney, not to several thousand employees across its broker and underwriter network.
Across Australia, only 30% of the population is now fully vaccinated. The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, recently said 70% of adults need to be fully vaccinated before COVID restrictions can be eased.
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Last month Qantas said it would make it mandatory for all its employees to be fully vaccinated. Telstra has also proposed mandatory jabs for all its frontline staff.
In the United States, where about 50% of the population is vaccinated and COVID remains out of control, a number of major corporations including Morgan Stanley, McDonald’s, Citigroup and Facebook have announced mandatory vaccinations for some or all staff.
AUB said its policy will be implemented in phases across different locations in conjunction with reduced lockdown restrictions.
