New leave arrangements for public sector workers contracting the COVID-19 virus have been announced in a Circular by the Government’s Labour Relations Sector.
The new rules affect those who may have to be absent from work because they have tested positive to COVID-19, or have COVID caring responsibilities, or are unable to attend work due to some other reason, such as workplace disruption.
“Employers are expected to take a pragmatic and precautionary approach to managing work absences related to COVID-19, with a view to promoting health and safety for employees and the broader community,” the Circular says.
“Employees are to access personal or sick leave entitlements in the first instance; employees with caring responsibilities directly related to COVID-19 are to access personal or carers leave in the first instance.”
It says that every public sector employee will be credited with five days of paid COVID-19 leave from 1 April. This replaces all existing COVID-19 leave balances.
“COVID-19 leave is paid leave,” the Circular says.
“It does not affect existing annual leave or long service leave accruals and is available to all public sector employees including casuals,” the Circular says.
“Employers may require employees to show reasonable evidence of their entitlement to COVID-19 leave before granting the leave, such as a positive result from a PCR test or COVID-19 rapid antigen test.
“Or they may choose to waive any requirement for leave evidence if satisfied an absence is justified in connection with COVID-19.”
The 2-page Circular’s arrangement comes into force on 1 April, and can be accessed on the Government Sector Labour Relations website at this PS News link.
