Terminated staff due to vaccination status at TVNZ

Erika Whittome made this Official Information request to Television New Zealand Limited

Response to this request is long overdue. By law Television New Zealand Limited should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.

From: Erika Whittome

Dear Television New Zealand Limited,

I understand the government vaccination mandates were dropped sometime around Sept 2022 with the revoking of certain C19 orders by the State.

1. What number of staff did you terminate or place on any form of " extended leave" due to your vaccination mandates starting Nov/Dec 2021 and Jan 2022 onwards?
2. Please also share the total headcount as of 15 Nov 2021 and today (when you answer this OIA).
3. When did you remove your policy for only employing vaccinated staff?
4. would you please kindly share the emails and correspondence regarding this decision to remove this policy for only hiring vaccinated staff?

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

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From: OIA
Television New Zealand Limited


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Dear Erika,

 

Your email requesting information related to terminated staff due to
vaccination status at TVNZ has been received and we will respond within
20 working days.

 

Regards

 

 

Official Information Act Requests

e. [1][TVNZ request email]

 

[2]tvnz-horizontal.jpg      [3]1-news.jpg

 

From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #23945 email]>
Sent: Friday, 25 August 2023 8:42 am
To: OIA <[TVNZ request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Terminated staff due to
vaccination status at TVNZ

 

Dear Television New Zealand Limited, I understand the government
vaccination mandates were dropped sometime around Sept 2022 with the
revoking of certain C19 orders by the State. 1. What number of staff did
you terminate or place on any form

Dear Television New Zealand Limited,

 

I understand the government vaccination mandates were dropped sometime around Sept 2022 with the revoking of certain C19 orders by the State.

 

1. What number of staff did you terminate or place on any form of " extended leave" due to your vaccination mandates starting Nov/Dec 2021 and Jan 2022 onwards?

2. Please also share the total headcount as of 15 Nov 2021 and today (when you answer this OIA).

3. When did you remove your policy for only employing vaccinated staff?

4. would you please kindly share the emails and correspondence regarding this decision to remove this policy for only hiring vaccinated staff?

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Erika Whittome

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #23945 email]

 

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References

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From: OIA
Television New Zealand Limited


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Dear Ms Whittome

 

Official Information Act request dated 25 August 2023

 

We refer to your email dated 25 August 2023 requesting information under
the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). The answers to your specific
questions are set out below.

 

Question 1: What number of staff did you terminate or place on any form of "extended leave" due to your vaccination mandates starting Nov/Dec 2021 and Jan 2022 onwards?

 

TVNZ put in place a vaccination policy in November 2021 which applied to our people, our contractors and our visitors (TVNZ Covid Vaccination Policy; the “Policy”). Under the Policy:

·         TVNZ staff performing essential services roles in our news and operations teams were required to be vaccinated to perform their roles through different alert levels and restrictions.

·         Only fully vaccinated individuals were able to come into TVNZ buildings, visit TVNZ run productions or attend TVNZ events.

·         Unvaccinated staff in performing non-essential service roles were eligible to work from home while vaccine certificates were in place.

 

No TVNZ employees were placed on extended leave during this time.

 

One TVNZ employee in an essential services operational role that could not be conducted from home had their employment terminated.

 

 

Question 2: Please also share the total headcount as of 15 Nov 2021 and today (when you answer this OIA).

 

TVNZ headcount is recorded at the end of each month.

 

Date Permanent and Fixed Term Headcount
30 October 2021 698
31 November 2021 714
31 July 2023 755

 

 

Question 3: When did you remove your policy for only employing vaccinated staff?

 

The Policy (as defined above) was removed in April 2022 in line with
changes to the government recommendation.

 

 

Question 4: Would you please kindly share the emails and correspondence regarding this decision to remove this policy for only hiring vaccinated staff?

 

TVNZ does not have emails or correspondence on this matter. The Policy was
removed after a Risk Assessment was completed in April 2022 (following the
government recommendation referred to in question 3).

 

As you may know, if you are dissatisfied with this refusal, section 28(3)
of the Act provides you with the right to make a complaint to the
Ombudsman in order to seek an investigation and review of the refusal.

  

Ngā mihi

OIA Team

 

Official Information Act Requests

e. [1][TVNZ request email]

 

[2]tvnz-horizontal.jpg      [3]1-news.jpg

 

 

From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #23945 email]>
Sent: Friday, 25 August 2023 8:42 am
To: OIA <[TVNZ request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Terminated staff due to
vaccination status at TVNZ

 

Dear Television New Zealand Limited, I understand the government
vaccination mandates were dropped sometime around Sept 2022 with the
revoking of certain C19 orders by the State. 1. What number of staff did
you terminate or place on any form

Dear Television New Zealand Limited,

 

I understand the government vaccination mandates were dropped sometime around Sept 2022 with the revoking of certain C19 orders by the State.

 

1. What number of staff did you terminate or place on any form of " extended leave" due to your vaccination mandates starting Nov/Dec 2021 and Jan 2022 onwards?

2. Please also share the total headcount as of 15 Nov 2021 and today (when you answer this OIA).

3. When did you remove your policy for only employing vaccinated staff?

4. would you please kindly share the emails and correspondence regarding this decision to remove this policy for only hiring vaccinated staff?

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Erika Whittome

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[4][FOI #23945 email]

 

Is [5][TVNZ request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Television New Zealand Limited? If so, please contact us using this form:

[6]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[7]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[TVNZ request email]
4. mailto:[FOI #23945 email]
5. mailto:[TVNZ request email]
6. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/fyi.o...
7. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/fyi.o...

Link to this

From: Erika Whittome

Dear OIA,

Your response to Question 3: When did you remove your policy for only employing vaccinated staff?
"The Policy (as defined above) was removed in April 2022 in line with
changes to the government recommendation."

It has come to my attention that on 1 September 2022 a job advert at TVNZ for a Project Manager at contained the following Covid-19 vaccination requirement:

COVID-19 Vaccination Condition for New Employees *
TVNZ is committed to following best practice in managing health and safety risks to our people
and to ensuring we can continue to operate as an essential service if there is an outbreak of
COVID-19. TVNZ's COVID-19 Vaccination Policy states that new employees are required to be
vaccinated against COVID-19 once vaccination is available to them. Current or future vaccination
against COVID-19 is a condition of employment included in the Employment Agreement...

Would you kindly clarify when the TVNZ vaccination policy actually ended?

Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

Link to this

From: OIA
Television New Zealand Limited


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Attachment 2024.07.31 Letter to Erika Whittome Vaccination Policy.pdf
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Kia ora Ms Whittome

 

Please see the attached response to your request for official information.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Official Information Act Requests

e. [1][TVNZ request email]

 

[2]tvnz-horizontal.jpg      [3]1-news.jpg

 

 

From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #23945 email]>
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2024 5:57 AM
To: OIA <[TVNZ request email]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Terminated staff due to
vaccination status at TVNZ

 

Dear OIA, Your response to Question 3: When did you remove your policy for
only employing vaccinated staff? "The Policy (as defined above) was
removed in April 2022 in line with changes to the government
recommendation. " It has come to my attention

Dear OIA,

 

Your response to Question 3: When did you remove your policy for only employing vaccinated staff?

"The Policy (as defined above) was removed in April 2022 in line with

changes to the government recommendation."

 

It has come to my attention that on 1 September  2022 a job advert at TVNZ for a Project Manager at contained the following Covid-19 vaccination requirement:

 

COVID-19 Vaccination Condition for New Employees *

TVNZ is committed to following best practice in managing health and safety risks to our people

and to ensuring we can continue to operate as an essential service if there is an outbreak of

COVID-19. TVNZ's COVID-19 Vaccination Policy states that new employees are required to be

vaccinated against COVID-19 once vaccination is available to them. Current or future vaccination

against COVID-19 is a condition of employment included in the Employment Agreement...

 

Would you kindly clarify when the TVNZ vaccination policy actually ended?

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Erika Whittome

 

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