The Financial Sector Embraces 'Vaccine Leave'... Encouraging Employee Vaccination

Accelerating in Line with Government Recommendations
Positive Outlook Even in Areas Yet to Adopt

On the 28th, elderly individuals at the vaccination center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, are filling out pre-screening forms for COVID-19 vaccination. According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team on the same day, the number of new first-dose vaccinations the previous day reached 640,000, combining 560,000 recipients of the AZ vaccine and 80,000 recipients of the Pfizer vaccine. This is the largest daily vaccination scale ever recorded. The nationwide first-dose vaccination rate, which had maintained the 7% range since the 7th, is expected to exceed 8% and enter the 9% range within 21 days. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] COVID-19 vaccine leave is rapidly spreading in the financial sector. Due to the nature of work that involves frequent customer interaction, it is a measure to alleviate customer anxiety through employees' vaccination. Financial companies that have not yet introduced it are actively considering adoption, so vaccine leave is expected to be implemented across the financial sector.

On the 30th, according to the financial sector, among financial holding companies, KB Financial, Woori Financial, and NH Nonghyup Financial have introduced vaccine leave. Most recently, on the 28th, NH Nonghyup Financial decided to provide up to 3 days of paid vaccine leave including the vaccination day. Regardless of any adverse reactions, employees can take 2 days of paid leave on the vaccination day and the following day. Additionally, if there are adverse reactions, they can take one more day off without submitting separate documents. This paid vaccine leave was jointly decided by eight major corporations including Nonghyup Central Association.

Woori Financial, which introduced vaccine leave earlier, also allows up to 3 days off. Paid leave can be used on the vaccination day, and if there are adverse reactions, employees can take two more days off without submitting separate documents. KB Kookmin Bank allows paid vaccine leave on the vaccination day and the following day, and if there are adverse reactions, an additional day off can be taken. Other financial holding companies are also positive about adoption. Shinhan Financial will follow the results of labor-management consultations at Shinhan Bank, and Hana Financial is also reviewing internally.

Among internet banks, Kakao Bank is providing paid vaccine leave, and K Bank is conducting internal discussions to introduce paid vaccine leave. Since its parent company KT decided to introduce vaccine leave of up to 3 days starting from the 20th, there is a high possibility of a positive outcome.

In big tech (large information and communication companies), Naver Financial is providing paid vaccine leave following Naver's decision to introduce it. Kakao Pay is positively reviewing adoption. Toss is effectively providing vaccine leave. A Toss representative explained, "Since we currently have unlimited leave, employees can use this leave." Toss's unlimited leave only requires notifying the schedule on the mobile bulletin board without supervisor approval. Additionally, among card companies, KB Kookmin Card, Samsung Card, Woori Card, and Hyundai Card have introduced vaccine leave.

The financial sector expects vaccine leave to spread throughout the industry. A financial sector official explained, "Due to the nature of the work, including call centers, there are many cases of customer interaction," and added, "Most financial companies tend to adopt it to reduce customers' anxiety."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.