Communicating about Covid-19 Vaccines with salon staff.

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Posted August 12, 2021

With so much misinformation around on Covid-19 and vaccinations, there’s no wonder that rumours are running rampant within salon teams. A safe and effective vaccine is only one part of keeping the Australian community safe and healthy, and getting businesses out of lockdown in states across Australia.

Salon owners have a duty under the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws to eliminate, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace.  The Australian Government is committed to providing all Australians with access to free, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. While the Government aims to have as many Australians as possible choose to be vaccinated, receiving a vaccination is completely voluntary. Salon owners can encourage their workers to get a COVID-19 vaccination, if they are able to. It’s important to note that you cannot force your staff to get a vaccine. Not everyone can have a vaccination, whether that’s because of personal belief, medical reasons or family medical history. It simply will not suit every worker.

Your personal preference as an employer is a great way to begin the conversation about vaccination, and government legislation may incentivise your staff, but simply put you cannot force your staff to get a vaccine, and we would strongly suggest you don’t exclude those workers who don’t want to get vaccinated.

Within the hair and beauty industry, the key concern for salon owners and their WHS requirements is the closeness of quarters in which our teams work, and how close we are physically to our clients. Put together with a large number of clients a staff member may see in a week, and we have an opportunity within the Hair and Beauty Industry for huge transmission in a salon space.

Within NSW, who are currently suffering most heavily under the Delta Variant of Covid-19, fully vaccinated employees could return to work earlier than those who are not, under a plan being considered by Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Those who are not vaccinated would have to go more rigorous and frequent testing.

Ms. Berejiklian said the government was assessing a ‘no jab, no work’ policy, allowing employees to return to work if they have been vaccinated. This has already been implemented in the Construction industry and could be a possibility for the Hair and Beauty Industry.

“We’re definitely trying to consider options that are more positive, to say classes of employees can go back if they’ve had the vaccination,” she said. “I don’t want to rule anything or out.”

Employers are being urged to encourage their staff to get any approved vaccine, so those employees can go back to work earlier.

 

On Thursday, fruit and vegetable processor SPC became the first Australian company to mandate vaccines for all onsite staff and visitors. If you want customers and visitors to be vaccinated as a condition of entry to your premises you should seek advice before you take any action as there may be privacy and discrimination issues that apply. 

 

Ultimately, a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination is only one part of keeping the Australian community safe. You must continue to implement all reasonably practicable control measures in your workplace, such as such as physical distancing, good hygiene and increased cleaning and maintenance. We recommend that salon owners suggest to all their staff to speak to their healthcare professional about the risks on either side of the situation. You can help your workers find out more information about the vaccines by directing them to the Department of Health website.

 

HABA wants to get salons open as soon and as safely has possible and we will do everything in our power to support salon owners in dealing with any Government Directive. We want our members to be ready to open, and any restrictions or mandates must be attainable for our members, and we will be fighting to make sure that when the doors are allowed to open, our members have what they need!

 

Do you require further advice?
For information or assistance relating to vaccines within your salon, please contact the Hair and Beauty Australia Workplace Advice Line on (02) 9221 9911, which is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm AEST, or email on info@askhaba.com.au.