Firms to redeploy unvaccinated staff or let them work from home

They are barred from returning to the office from Jan 15; termination will be last resort

- Sue-Ann Tan

Unvaccinated employees will be redeployed to roles that allow them to work remotely or continue working from home, with termination taken only as a last resort, companies and observers told The Straits Times.

They were responding to new rules announced last Sunday that bar unvaccinated staff from returning to the workplace from Jan 15, even if they test negative for Covid-19 24 hours beforehand.

Only those certified as medically ineligible for the vaccine or people who have recovered from Covid-19 within 180 days can return.

Mr Ang Yuit, vice-president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, said: “For many, redeployment is the obvious option. There really aren’t many other alternatives.

“Having the human resources team speak to the workers and encourage vaccination is a longerterm option.”

Companies that require workers to be physically present, such as those in retail and manufacturing, and workers performing certain office functions might have it harder, he added.

The new rules, which apply to both employees and self-employed people, will affect a significant number.