Insurer Manulife Financial (TSX:MFC) says it will require all employees in Canada to provide proof of their vaccination status by the end of October and will force unvaccinated staff to undergo regular COVID-19 testing before they can work in its offices.
Employees who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons must provide a note from a licensed healthcare professional, Manulife said in a statement. People refusing the vaccine for religious reasons must make a written attestation.
The life insurer’s vaccine mandate follows similar policies announced last month by Canadian banks to make vaccines mandatory.
Manulife hasn’t set a date yet for bringing staff back to its offices across Canada.
In March, to encourage people to get vaccinated, Manulife offered gift cards and cheaper hotel stays to workers and clients who got inoculated.
Manulife has also added the vaccination to its health tracking program, which rewards health- and life-insurance policyholders for things such as exercising, getting regular health screenings or taking nutrition classes.
