Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has introduced mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for employees of its New Zealand businesses.
According to IAG, vaccination is compulsory for employees who work from IAG offices and other worksites. This also includes employees who interact with customers, partners, suppliers and other people as a part of their roles.
The insurer will also require its business partners, including bank and broker partners, to be vaccinated before they can enter IAG premises.
IAG New Zealand CEO Amanda Whiting said that the policy was made after consulting with employees.
“We have made this decision because we strongly believe it is the right thing to do,” Whiting said. “Since the start of the pandemic, our decision-making has been guided by government advice and the priority of keeping people safe. We have always adhered to government restrictions, and in many cases, gone above and beyond those to provide our people, partners and customers with additional protections.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic, IAG has introduced wider remote working for its workforce, as well as increased the amount of paid leaves for its employees, including a “wellness day” and two half-days of leave for staff to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations.
“We have more than 3,500 employees across the country and our approach has been to ensure they have the time and space needed to get vaccinated and prioritise their mental and physical health,” Whiting said. “We have been delighted with the positive response we have received from our people so far and will continue to work with them to adjust and adapt our approach to protect all people into the future.”
Other insurers are also mulling whether to implement mandatory vaccination for their employees. Earlier, Partners Life managing director Naomi Ballantyne said that her company has yet to make vaccination compulsory, but is already considering this course of action. With IAG – one of the largest insurance groups in the market – doing so, other companies may follow soon.
