Those refusing shots may face unpaid leave, termination
Air Canada is implementing a COVID-19 vaccination policy, and those who refuse to follow the rules may face penalties.
The employer says all employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and report their vaccination status as of Oct. 30, 2021.
Porter Airlines have also recently announced its vaccination policy.
Other employers that have also previously announced COVID-19 vaccination policies, including the federal government, Ontario, Manitoba, the City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Maple Leaf Foods, Toronto Hydro.
Penalties
However, Air Canada said that employees’ failure to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 30, 2021, will have consequences up to and including unpaid leave or termination, except for those who qualify for accommodation.
The employer will also not be offering COVID testing as an alternative.
“Air Canada remains committed to the continued development and application of new safety measures and processes as they become available that are effective and convenient for customers. Such measures are vital to the safe restart of the air transport industry which, apart from enabling Canadians to travel freely, is also an essential driver of economic activity in Canada,” according to the company.
“Employees with a valid medical reason for being unvaccinated, or for reasons protected by human rights legislation, must be offered formal accommodation under the law,” it says.
Another expert previously said it may be well within Canadians’ rights to refuse COVID-19 vaccination back when the government had not announced making it mandatory.
