Staff of Flow, officially Cable & Wireless seemed to have been meet with a “surprise” on yesterday December 1st, 2021 when they were not allowed on the premises of the company due to their vaccination status. However, management says this was not a surprise to staff and measures were clearly outlined providing staff with adequate time.
Local media showed a handful of staff members outside expressing their disgust with the situation and what they called discrimination and an attack on their human rights. This is not the first company to issue such a mandate in the Virgin Island since the onset of vaccination efforts.
While there are persons in support and those in opposition of such mandates, what is alarming is that the Government of the Virgin has left this solely up to employees to decide. Not issuing any statements on the matter of employers requesting mandatory vaccination.
Our newsroom reached out to Cable & Wireless Communications team and they shared the following statement.
“Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, C&W Communications, parent company of BTC, C&W Business, C&W Networks, and Flow, has implemented rigorous health and safety measures to help protect our employees, their families, and our customers and local communities.
As we continue to manage and operate through the global COVID pandemic across our markets, the company has taken the decision to mandate vaccination for our employees in a phased approach over time. This decision was not taken lightly, but ultimately, we believe we have a responsibility to our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve.
In conjunction with the roll-out of its vaccination policy, C&W Communications will implement a hybrid working model where employees who have been working remotely will return to the office for a designated period each week based on their roles and responsibilities. In the BVI, the vaccine mandate and return to work framework takes effect on December 1, 2021, where only fully vaccinated employees will be allowed into office facilities.
The timing for the vaccination mandate and adoption of the hybrid working model is determined on a market-by-market basis considering factors such as country vaccination rates, employee vaccination rates, the availability of in-person schooling, and accessibility to public transportation, among other criteria.”
More to come as the story develops.