Western Australian Public Servants have been notified they are eligible for up to 20 days paid COVID-19 leave if required.
Public Sector Circular no 6 of 2020, which replaces an earlier notification, sets out employment flexibilities available to public sector employers responding to the COVID-19 situation.
The Circular says that employers should take a pragmatic and precautionary approach to managing work absences related to COVID-19, with a view to promoting health and safety for individuals, others in the workplace, and the public.
“It is also important to monitor leave applications to ensure employees access appropriate leave types only when they are entitled to do so,” the Circular says.
Noting that advice could change as the situation developed, the Circular urges employers and employees to monitor the Government’s Coronavirus website (wa.gov.au) to ascertain who was affected, and how, at any time.
“The COVID-19 situation will involve absence from work because employees are sick, have caring responsibilities, are required to self-isolate, or are unable to attend work for some other reason such as widespread disruption to transport or workplace access,” the Circular says.
“In these circumstances each employee may be granted up to 20 days of COVID-19 leave.”
It says this would be paid leave, with pay calculated in the same way as for annual leave, excluding loading; it did not affect existing annual leave or long service leave accruals; it was not in itself accruable, and was available to all public sector employees including casuals.
The new four-page Circular 6/2020 can be accessed at this PS News link.
