Australian Lawyers Weekly report
SPC’s mandate
Over the past year, Lawyers Weekly has considered whether or not law firms can or should mandate vaccinations for coronavirus for their staff, and/or whether law firm offices could be vaccination hubs for those wanting to return to work sooner. Research from global law firm King & Wood Mallesons found that company directors overwhelmingly support mandates for vaccinations, at least in certain circumstances.
Now, SPC has become perhaps the first Australian company to implement a mandate for its employees and on-site visitors to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Speaking on ABC News Breakfast last week, SPC chair Hussein Rifai said: “We believe that the only way that we can get out and protect our employees and our customers, and the communities in which we work is to get the vaccine.”
The company is set to give its staff paid vaccination leave and up to two days of special leave to recover if they become unwell after receiving the shot, and they will have six weeks to book their first vaccination or risk being barred from on-site work.
