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26 October 2021

An update for our valued Coles Group suppliers, contractors and partners

As I am sure you are aware, Coles Group announced on Thursday, 21 October, that we will require a number of our team members to be vaccinated to continue to work at our sites.

Coles Group has taken this decision based on clear health advice and a comprehensive risk assessment, which concluded that, as we enter a new phase of living and working with COVID, vaccination represents the best way to ensure we can continue to provide a safe environment for our team members and customers, including those who are particularly vulnerable to COVID.

The same safety factors that have led us to require vaccination for our team members apply equally to a number of our valued suppliers, contractors and partners who work onsite with our teams and provide critical services to support our operations.

For this reason, Coles Group has decided that we will only permit personnel from suppliers, partners, contractors (including sub-contractors) and labour hire team members to work onsite at Coles Group stores and sites if they have been vaccinated. This includes all Coles Supermarkets, Coles Express, Coles Local, Liquorland, First Choice Liquor, and Vintage Cellars stores, DCs and our Store Support Centres.

This will be applied across each state as follows:

• in NSW and the ACT, Coles Group will only permit third party personnel onsite at our stores, distribution centres or other sites if they have been vaccinated in accordance with the dates set out below.
• In Victoria, NT and WA, we will only permit third party personnel onsite at our sites if they have been vaccinated in line with the dates and conditions set out in public health orders and summarised below. Coles Group intends to maintain the requirement to be vaccinated as an ongoing policy in these states.
• In QLD, SA, and Tasmania, we continue to strongly encourage all those who work with us to get vaccinated and will review our approach as circumstances change.
• Individuals who have a medical contraindication or are required to access our sites in an emergency will be exempt from these requirements

Our expectation across all states is that our suppliers and partner organisations will monitor the vaccination status of their team members and only roster or request team members to attend our sites who are vaccinated in accordance with the timelines in this policy. From the relevant dates, Coles Group will require those signing into our sites to declare that they have been vaccinated in accordance with this policy. In some instances, we may also ask those entering our sites to provide evidence of their vaccination status, but otherwise will not be collecting any vaccination status information directly.

We appreciate that this may impact some of your people, so if you have any questions, please reach out to your relationship or contract manager.

Thank you for your support and all your hard work in keeping one another safe.

Best wishes

Steven Cain

CEO, Coles Group

VACCINATION TIMELINES

* Supermarkets and CEXP sites only

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Does this apply to customers?

No, this policy applies only to those suppliers, partners, contractors (including sub-contractors) and labour hire team members who sign in to work in a Coles Group store, DC or Store Support Centre.

Does this apply to people who work at farms or supplier sites?

No, this policy does not apply to your team members unless and until they work onsite at a Coles Group store, DC or Store Support Centre. Public health orders in some states may require vaccination for other team members and you should ensure that you comply with these requirements.

Does this apply to people who make deliveries to Coles sites?

Yes, as those making deliveries to Coles Group stores and DCs often interact with our team members, we will require anyone making a delivery in affected states to be vaccinated in accordance with this policy.

How do I get my team vaccinated?

Anyone can make a booking at their nearest clinic or pharmacy via the Federal Government’s Vaccine Clinic Finder website or by speaking to your local pharmacist or GP directly. They can also make a booking at a state or territory vaccination centre. Vaccines are now widely available and appointments are easy to obtain.

How do I notify Coles of my team’s vaccination status?

You do not need to notify Coles Group of you or your team’s vaccination status other than through a declaration when entering our sites. Please do not send any vaccination evidence by email or electronically.

What are valid medical exemptions for not getting vaccinated?

Guidance as to medical contraindications are provided by each state or territory government.

What happens if one of my team choose not to get vaccinated?

They will not be able to work onsite at a Coles Group location from the relevant date, unless exempt.