No jab means no bonus or promotion: HK Football Club

The Hong Kong Football Club has told its employees to get vaccinated against Covid-19, warning that a failure to get jabbed without a medical exemption will see them miss out on pay rises, bonuses and even promotions.

An internal memo to staff from the club’s general manager Mark Pawley on Tuesday said that employees who are already fully vaccinated can receive a HK$2,000 payment – an offer also open to anyone who gets the jabs before the end of July.

They will also receive two days of paid leave.

Staff who can provide a valid medical exemption certificate are also eligible for the money, the memo said, adding that an extra HK$1,000 bonus will be paid out once all eligible staff have been inoculated.

Entities in the private sphere have ramped up efforts to encourage their staff to get vaccinated in the past week, following the government’s call to boost the city’s lowly vaccination rate on Monday.

But, going a step further, the club also said that, “Staff who refuse to take the Covid-19 jab or cannot produce an exemption certificate… will receive no pay rise, no discretionary bonuses and no promotion going forward.”

In the memo, Pawley said the measures are to encourage staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible to ensure the smooth operation of the club.

The club declined to comment further when approached by RTHK.