Claymark employees who become fully vaccinated by December 10 will receive an incentive payment. Photo / Andrew Warner
Claymark employees who become fully vaccinated by December 10 will receive an incentive payment. Photo / Andrew Warner
A major Bay company is giving staff $100 if they get both jabs before December 10.
Pine manufacturer Claymark, which has sites across the central North Island and employs more than 550 people, is offering its staff $50 per Covid-19 vaccination.
The move comes as businesses consider how to encouragestaff to become fully vaccinated - including Westpac, which is offering half a day off work.
Claymark executive director Paul Pedersen believed "incentivising and helping" staff factories was the "right thing to do".
"The timber industry in New Zealand is a major contributor to the economy," he said.
"We must do everything we can as an industry to protect our staff and our communities while adding to the national vaccination effort."
He said it would "speed up" the vaccination rate in Rotorua, Thames, Katikati and Te Kuiti - helping the communities in the "long-term fight" against Covid-19.
Families of Claymark staff members were also encouraged and welcome to attend the on-site vaccination sessions - however, the cash incentive was only for staff.
Claymark forklift driver Wills Martin. Photograph / Andrew Warner
Claymark general manager sales and marketing Bruce Barclay said the incentive had been "welcomed" by staff.
The vaccination drive would kick off next week, with nurses coming into the Rotorua head office to issue the jab.
In Katikati, Claymark was looking to rent a community centre for the initiative and would transport staff to that site.
Barclay said the drive was centred around "being proactive in the community" and contributing to their employees' quality of life. The move was in line with other recent wellbeing initiatives being rolled out company-wide, he said.
This included challenges centred around healthy eating and exercise, with a gym opening at the Rotorua site in coming weeks.
"A healthy worker is a happier worker. Health is really important, and we are committed as a company to providing help where required to that individual and to that community," Barclay said.
Westpac Bay of Plenty regional manager Susan Grey. Photo / Supplied
Westpac New Zealand had recently introduced paid special leave for employees to attend Covid-19 vaccination appointments.
Roughly 160 Westpac staff in the Bay were eligible to use half a day of special leave.
Bay of Plenty regional manager Susan Grey said the news had been received positively by staff, with "many of them using the leave soon after it was made available".
Grey said the company wanted to make it as "easy as possible" for staff.
"We know time is precious to everyone at the moment, so offering paid leave to get vaccinated saves them having to get the jab in their own time, or use their annual leave to do so.
"We also just conducted a company-wide survey, which found 94 per cent of respondents have either had at least one jab or are booked in to get their first, which is really encouraging."
Trustpower general manager people and culture Sara Broadhurst said the company had "explicitly told" staff they could use paid working time to get vaccinated if it best suited them.
"We have, for some time now, been encouraging our employees to be vaccinated, and asking them to let us know if they are having any problems accessing a vaccination."
She said the company had not yet observed any barriers to staff getting the jab, and it was "further developing" its approach to support employees through the vaccine rollout.
Tauranga City Council general manager, people and engagement Susan Jamieson said staff were not required to take annual leave if they got vaccinated during work hours.
"We also enable people to get a vaccination when it is possible for them," she said.
Rising Tide owner Glenn Meikle said he was "definitely" encouraging staff to get vaccinated.
"We are proactive. Considering we are hospitality and events, it is the only way we are going to get back to business."
Meikle, who also co-owns Mount Brewing Co Brewery, said he was contacted when last-minute appointments were made available at vaccination clinics in Tauranga.
Rising Tide owner Glenn Meikle also co-owns Mount Brewing Co. Brewery. Photo / NZME
Staff were then given the option to attend these appointments.
He said 95 per cent of Rising Tide staff had already received their first vaccination.
While operating at alert level was tricky due to staff working "really hard" for only 70 per cent turnover, Meikle had his sights set on a return to normality.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said many employers were "playing it cautious", trying to inform staff to make good decisions.
"There are staff shortages, so most employers want to read the mood of the staff room before deciding their approach.
"Businesses may take a stronger approach with their staff once they know what benefits come with vaccinations, such as international travel and fewer lockdowns."
He had seen a "growing number" of businesses allowing staff to get vaccinated during work hours.
Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan. Photo / Supplied
Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said the tourism sector was "grappling" with the new legal versus ethical thinking surrounding vaccinations and compelling employees to get vaccinated.
"It is of course top of mind for all of us as most realise that we need to vaccinate to stay open, particularly in the tourism industry," he said.
Ministry of Health group manager Covid-19 vaccination operations Astrid Koornneef said the ministry encouraged all businesses to support their workers to access vaccination without facing costs or disadvantages.
The Unite Against Covid-19 website had a new Business toolkit, providing "comprehensive information" about how employers can help their workers get vaccinated.
Koornneef said businesses could not require any individual to be vaccinated.
"However, businesses can require that certain work must only be done by vaccinated workers, where there is high risk of contracting and transmitting Covid-19 to others."
