PICK N PAY WELLINGTON ORDERS STAFF TO GET VACCINATED

While many corporate companies in South African have made it mandatory for their staff members to get vaccinated, one Pick n Pay branch has ordered its staff to get vaccinated or face disciplinary action.

The Wellington branch of the popular grocery group is an independently owned franchise and can determine its own vaccination policy.

The store has given its staff until Friday to provide proof of their vaccination or have warned that they will face disciplinary action. Those that can’t get vaccinated because of medical grounds will be exempted if they can provide evidence.

Pick n Pay Chief Strategy and Restructuring Officer David North told radio station CapeTalk that while the company encourages its staff members to get vaccinated, it hasn’t made it mandatory.

“We’ve discussed vaccine mandates. From 1 January, access to our offices will be restricted to colleagues who are fully vaccinated. The vast majority of our office staff are now vaccinated.”

North went on to say that the company is very much in favour of vaccination for its staff.

“We’ve made the process of getting vaccinated as a Pick n Pay employee simple and convenient. We’ve given staff a paid day off to get vaccinated and had to take on the job of helping to dispel the myths around vaccination.”

Zolani Mbanjwa, Provincial Secretary of the Food and Allied Workers Union says that while they are against mandatory vaccination, they encourage their members to get vaccinated.

“We have not been consulted. Some employees will refuse. If you engage with them, you need to establish their reasons. We are determined to fight for workers who have opted not to be vaccinated.”

Image credit: The MBS Group