The Public Sector Commission (PSC) has extended its COVID-19 General Order that allows State employees to take unpaid pandemic leave, annual leave on half pay and annual leave in advance.
In a statement, the PSC said the General Order was due to expire on 31 July and would now be extended until 31 March 2021.
“The Commission in Court Session undertook a review of the General Order and heard from the Minister, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and UnionsWA,” the PSC said.
“It was agreed that, in the current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on businesses and employment, and the continuing uncertainty it has generated, the operation of the General Order should continue.”
The provisions of the order include that where an award or industrial agreement contains a term that is more beneficial to an employee, then the more beneficial term should apply.
Otherwise, where there was conflict between the terms of an award or industrial agreement and the General Order, the terms of the General Order should take precedence.
It allows an employee to take up to two weeks’ unpaid leave if the employee is required by Government or medical authorities or acting on the advice of a medical practitioner, to self-isolate or is otherwise prevented from working.
It is not necessary for employees to exhaust their paid leave entitlements before accessing unpaid pandemic leave.
Instead of an employee taking paid annual leave at full pay, the employee and their employer may agree to the employee taking twice as much leave at half pay.
An employee and employer may also agree to an employee taking a period of annual leave in advance of the entitlement being accrued as long as certain conditions are met.
The original General Order can be accessed at this PS News link.
