Covid-19 Australia: Two of Australia’s biggest banks to require their 75,000 staff to get a jab

Two of Australia’s biggest companies have announced they will require their 75,000 staff to get a mandatory Covid vaccine. 

Westpac and Commonwealth Bank will require staff who intend to return to their workplace to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus. 

The mandate will affect around 75,000 staff nation-wide including thousands who currently work in two lenders in Sydney’s CBD.  

Employees based in NSW and Victoria will be required to have had two doses of a Covid vaccine from December. 

Westpac chief executive Peter King said the mandate is necessary to protect the health and safety of both employees and customers. 

The bank boss said the mandate was even more important following the prediction Covid case numbers would surge following the relaxing of restrictions.  

Mr King said a survey that asked Westpac employees their thoughts on mandatory jabs had received more than 10,000 responses. 

‘Pleasingly, 91 per cent said they are, or intend to be, vaccinated, with a further 4 per cent undecided,’ the chief executive said in a statement. 

He said as an essential service banks had remained open to the public throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. 

‘With a large workforce, it is important that we have the safest possible work environment,’ Mr King said. 

More to come.