Coles reveals change to key vaccination rule in stores
Coles has updated its vaccination policy requiring all staff to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and those who fail to comply could lose their jobs.
The supermarket giant in a statement said the “vast majority” of staff are now fully protected against the virus.
But Coles will now look to ensure “team members who are yet to receive the vaccine do so as a condition of working at any of our stores, distribution centres and other sites nationally, unless they have a valid exemption”.
Staff in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania will all need to be fully vaccinated by March 31 and to have had their first jab by February 25.
In WA, distribution centres and supermarket staff members will have to be fully vaccinated by January 31 while Coles Liquor staff will need one jab by February 25 and two by March 31.
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Coles said it means it will bring “in line” all its staff with the rest of its team members across Australia where vaccination is already required.
Coles Group Chief Legal and Safety Officer David Brewster said the supermarket has had a strong uptake on vaccinations.
“Extending this requirement to the remaining states will help us ensure that as many people as possible get the jab so we can all be safer,” he said.
Coles is also now recommending staff get booster shots.
It’s a different story for shoppers going to Coles though. As a deemed essential service, shoppers do not need to be fully vaccinated to buy groceries.
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