Old Mutual adopts mandatory Covid vaccine policy

The insurance and banking group made the announcement on Friday. 

The policy takes effect at the start of next year where employees will be required to declare and submit proof of their vaccination to the company.

Old Mutual CEO Iain Williamson says that the company has a moral obligation to make and support decisions that will benefit the wellbeing of its employees, customers and stakeholders.

“Across the world, vaccinations are proving to be the key to unlocking economic activity, returning life to a more normal rhythm, preventing severe illness and death, decreasing transmission rates, as well as reducing the emergence of new variants of the disease. 

“We believe that mandatory vaccination is an important step to ensuring we create a safer working environment for our employees and our customers and contributing to the much needed economic recovery,” Williamson says.

Since the start of the pandemic last year, 55 Old Mutual employees have succumbed to Covid-19 related complications. 

“This tragically high death rate and the negative impact on the mental and financial health of individuals, communities, schools and businesses compels us to take action. Ensuring that as many people as possible are vaccinated and protected against this threat is clearly the right and rational thing to do,” Williamson adds.

According to the company, aggrieved employees will be given room to object the policy “on valid grounds and each exemption application will be assessed on its merits by an Exemptions Committee”.

Earlier this year, Discovery got the ball rolling with the controversial policy.

Wits University, UCT and Rhodes University have since followed suite. 

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