The Labor department has encouraged all workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine to help the country achieve herd immunity. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS
SOME PHILIPPINE employers are planning to have distinct policies for employees who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and those that have not been inoculated, a survey found.
Although most of the 60 Philippine companies surveyed by Mercer in February said they do not want to require vaccination, 41% of respondents said that having a workforce composed of vaccinated and non-vaccinated employees will be a concern.
Eight percent said they would enact distinct business travel policies between the two sets of employees, and 10% said vaccination is a condition for returning to the worksite, according to the report from asset management firm Mercer.
Around 7% said vaccines could be needed for certain types of work, such as those requiring direct customer contact.
In contrast, 30% said they will not differentiate policies based on vaccine status and 26% said they will follow government guidelines.
Just 2% of surveyed employers at the time planned to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, although more than half said they would encourage it.
Firms that said they would not require vaccination said so mostly due to employee concerns about vaccine safety and to comply with labor and human rights legislation. More than 40% feared potential liability if an employee experiences a bad reaction to the jab.
The survey was conducted before Republic Act No. 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccine Program Act was signed on Feb. 26. Under Section 12 of this law, the vaccine card which is issued to all vaccinated individuals should not be a mandatory requirement for employment.
Only 2% of the survey respondents said they would offer cash or gift card incentives for workers who get inoculated. Almost half said they would definitely not provide incentives, while 41% are considering it.
“However, one in four have stated that they will provide additional time off for employees to get vaccinated,” Mercer said in a statement on Wednesday.
Just a third or 32% of Filipinos are willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 given that the vaccines would be free and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, a recent survey from Social Weather Stations (SWS) said. Another 33% said they are unwilling, while 35% are uncertain.
More than two-thirds of the firms surveyed by Mercer said they have developed or are developing communication plans on the jab.
“Given that the major issues surrounding the vaccination rollout are vaccine safety and human rights legislation, it’s not surprising that most respondents opted not to offer any form of incentive to respect their employees’ personal decision,” Mercer Philippines Chief Executive Officer Maria Theresa E. Alday said.
“The decision to receive the vaccine ultimately boils down to trust. And employers play a critical role in educating and sharing accurate information with employees, including facts about the benefits of the vaccines, company policies and insurance coverage.’’
Almost all the companies said they are communicating the benefits of the vaccine, while 76% shared details about access and 66% offered information on company policies. Less than half said they are sharing details about insurance coverage and reimbursement.
“This could be due in part to a lack of clarity or information at the moment but is absolutely critical information that employees need to know, be it details on claims or benefits with respect to the COVID-19 vaccination or its potential effects,” Ms. Alday said.
While just 13% have started discussing vaccine delivery with public health officials and vendors, 72% of respondents said they are looking into facilitating employee inoculation. A quarter said they formed a group that would guide their vaccine-related policies.
“What’s vital is that employers set appropriate expectations about returning to the office and the need for precautions and safe practices like wearing masks and social distancing. Even as the number of individuals being vaccinated increases, various forms of public health restrictions will still be in place until we see herd immunity in our communities,” Ms. Alday said. — Jenina P. Ibañez