Terminated staff due to vaccination status at MSD

Erika Whittome made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development

The request was partially successful.

From: Erika Whittome

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

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

What number of staff did you terminate or place on any form of " extended leave" due to your vaccination mandates around Nov/Dec 2021 and Jan 2022? Please also share the total headcount as of 15 Nov 2021 and today (when you answer this OIA).

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development

IN-CONFIDENCE

Tēnā koe Erika Whittome,

 

Thank you for your email received 5 August 2023, under the Official
Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate
officials at National Office to respond. 

 

Ngā manaakitanga,

 

Official and Parliamentary Information Team | Ministerial and Executive
Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and
independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū
motuhake

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Erika Whittome <[1][FOI #23707 email]>

Sent: Saturday, 5 August 2023 7:46 AM

To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[2][MSD request email]>

Subject: Official Information request - Terminated staff due to
vaccination status at MSD

 

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

 

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

 

What number of staff did you terminate or place on any form of " extended
leave" due to your vaccination mandates around Nov/Dec 2021 and Jan 2022?
Please also share the total headcount as of 15 Nov 2021 and today (when
you answer this OIA).

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Erika Whittome

 

 

 

------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------

References

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1. mailto:[FOI #23707 email]
2. mailto:[MSD request email]

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Al left an annotation ()

I came across this OIA which might be useful background from 2022 a while ago:
https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-...

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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development

Tçnâ koe Erika Whittome

 

On 5 August 2023, you emailed the Ministry of Social Development (the
Ministry) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act),
the following information:

 

o What number of staff did you terminate or place on any form of "
extended leave" due to your vaccination mandates around Nov/Dec 2021
and Jan 2022?
o Please also share the total headcount as of 15 Nov 2021 and today
(when you answer this OIA).

 

The Ministry has decided to grant your request in part, namely information
which relates to the total headcount for permanent and fixed term staff.
However, it will take some time to prepare this information for release.
The information will be sent to you by 7 September 2023. We will respond
earlier if we are able to.

 

The Ministry can confirm for the period 1 November 2021 to 31 January 2022
no staff were terminated due to the vaccination mandate.

 

The Ministry has also decided to refuse part of your request for
information regarding the number of staff who were placed on any form of
‘extended leave’ due to the vaccination mandate policy, under section
18(f) of the Act, as staff would have to manually review a substantial
number of files. The greater public interest is in the effective and
efficient administration of the public service.

 

This is a decision under section 15(1)(a) of the Act.

 

If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
[1][MSD request email].

 

If you are not satisfied with this decision, you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a
complaint is available at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.

 

Ngâ manaakitanga,

 

Official Information team | Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.

 

------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MSD request email]
2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development


Attachment OIA Response WHITTOME.pdf
115K Download View as HTML


IN-CONFIDENCE

Tçnâ koe Erika Whittome

 

Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

Official Information team | Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau.

 

 

------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------

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