Crown enforces vaccine mandate for staff and patrons in Sydney and Melbourne

Australian casino operator Crown said that all its staff, as well as all visitors at its Sydney and Melbourne venues, will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19, effective immediately. The policy includes customers and on-site restaurants and shops, as well as the company’s 20,000 employees.

Crown Resorts chief executive Steve McCann said the new rules were critical to stopping the spread of the virus, “we must do whatever is in our power to help limit the potential for further impact at our resorts - whether that be to our people, our guests or to business continuity,” he said in a statement.

Crown venues are already using government QR check-in codes to verify people’s vaccination status on entry. Crown’s Perth casino is also expected to implement a similar policy by January 31.

Crown is among several major Australian companies, such as Qantas, Virgin Australia, Telstra, and SPC, to impose the vaccination mandate.

McCann stated on Monday that the move had overwhelming support from stakeholders.

In September, a Crown staff survey was conducted showing that 63% supported the idea of a mandatory vaccination policy in the hospitality sector with 60% of the respondents having at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. It was then when the company implemented a vaccine incentive scheme, offering workers three hours’ paid leave to get the vaccine as well as a day of extra sick leave for those who needed it.

The United Workers Union, representing casino staff, has previously opposed mandating vaccines at Crown, arguing it would cause unnecessary angst for workers, reports The West Australian.

A recent royal commission into Crown Resorts castigated the company for “illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative” behavior, however, the resort was allowed to continue running under supervision.