National Commercial Bank (NCB) Group, one of the largest financial institutions in Jamaica, has moved ahead with its mandatory coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination or weekly testing policy, which took effect on Wednesday morning (November 3).

Euton Cummings, General Manager of Group Human Resources Division at NCB, in a statement circulated to all staff members on Tuesday afternoon, indicated that the vax mandate applies to both face-to-face and work-from-home (WFH) staff. 

NCB employees who fail to take at least one COVID-19 vaccine jab or refuse to upload weekly negative PCR tests will be listed as ‘absent from work’ and have their salaries docked. 

These unvaccinated employees, effectively placed on unpaid leave, would be able to take vacation days instead of the ‘absent’ categorisation, according to the circular.

“In the event the employee is unable to produce a current PCR test result, the employee will be unable to attend work (this applies to face-to-face and remote work) and will be required to take the days on which they are absent as unpaid leave,” the NCB HR head indicated.

“In those circumstances, the employee has the option, with the agreement of his/her manager, to use any vacation days that he/she has to his/her credit in lieu of unpaid days,” the statement read.

See statement in full below: 

“Further to Staff Circular No. 164/2021/S, this circular serves as a reminder that effective Wednesday, November 3, 2021, and every Wednesday thereafter, employees who have not received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are expected to submit a legitimate negative PCR COVID-19 test result to the management of their unit. 

In the event the employee is unable to produce a current PCR test result, the employee will be unable to attend work (this applies to face-to-face and remote work) and will be required to take the days on which they are absent as unpaid leave.

In those circumstances, the employee has the option, with the agreement of his/her manager, to use any vacation days that he/she has to his/her credit in lieu of unpaid days.

Copies of the PCR test results are to be uploaded to the SharePoint portal in a manner similar to the uploading of vaccination card information. The details to support the mobilising [of] this initiative are below: 

Absence Management

 a) Sick Leave

In the event an unvaccinated employee returns with a positive PCR test, in addition to making contact with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, he/she will be required to obtain a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner who will certify on convalescent period. The employee should then provide his/her supervisor with the quarantine order and the sick leave certificate. Upon receipt, the unit manager should submit a ‘Request for Sick Leave in Excess Form’ in the event the employee’s total sick leave absence (in addition to any other sick absences for that calendar year) puts that employee in excess of their annual sick paid leave entitlement (10 days). 

b) Vacation in lieu of no-pay leave

Employees who wish to utilise a portion of their accumulated vacation to offset unpaid leave, should request same via email to their unit manager. Once this request has been made and the manager agrees, GHRFD (Group Human Resources Facilities Division) should be notified via email. 

These submissions are to be directed to Alethia McDonald and Javier Burke from Group HR & Facilities Division by the 12th of each month or the earliest practicable date. 

Payroll Submissions

Details regarding unpaid leave should be submitted to GHRD-Compensation & Benefits by the Service Quality Managers/Administrative Officers using the following format: 

In the event you have any queries, please contact Mrs. Marva Allen.”

NCB’s vaccine mandate has taken effect despite blowback from within the financial company, particularly led by the institution’s Staff Association, which has voiced strong opposition to the policy when it was first announced earlier in October.