ACC has introduced a vaccination policy that will requires all employees and visitors to its premises to have a valid Vaccine Pass, beginning Dec. 15.
The Crown accident insurer adopted the policy following a consultation with employees last week.
“Of the just over 50% of ACC employees who responded to the consultation, 85% are in favour of the policy,” said CEO Megan Main. “The policy is designed to ensure ACC is providing a healthy and safe work environment and supporting the wellbeing of our people. I appreciate this may be an unsettling process for some of our people, some of whom are not vaccinated, but we have a plan in place to ensure they will still be able to work remotely.”
To be able to enter an ACC office or other location, all employees, contractors, providers, suppliers and visitors will need to be vaccinated and show a valid Vaccine Pass. Unvaccinated people (or those who choose not to disclose their vaccination status) will not be allowed to enter. Unvaccinated staff will be allowed to work remotely until April, extending upon ACC’s initial proposal that allowed remote work until Feb. 28.
“Over the next few months, we will have time to consider whether working from home is a viable permanent option for some roles and how we design our ways of working in a way that supports this,” Main said. “We followed advice from Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission in developing and consulting on our proposed policy, and also considered aligning where appropriate with other government agencies.”
To support clients regardless of vaccination status, ACC will install drop-off boxes for forms at all sites. Clients unable to show a valid Vaccine Pass will be refused entry, but ACC will contact them through telephone to assist them with their concerns.
ACC said that meetings with clients, suppliers and other customers will continue off-site, with appropriate controls, such as mask wearing and physical distancing, in place.
