The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has amended 99 awards, including the Graphic Arts, Printing & Publishing Award, to allow employees to take two weeks of unpaid pandemic leave as well as twice as much annual leave at half their normal pay - if their employer agrees.
The variation in each award applies from an employee’s first full pay period on or after 8 April 2020 until 30 June 2020. This end date can be extended by application to the Commission.
“The Commission may vary more awards to include similar provisions,” said the FWC on its website. “We’ll update this information if that happens.”
Unpaid pandemic leave
Employees who are employed under one of the affected awards can access up to 2 weeks’ unpaid pandemic leave (or more by agreement with their employer) if they're prevented from working: as a result of being required to self-isolate by government or medical authorities, or acting on the advice of a medical practitioner; or by measures taken by government or medical authorities in response to the pandemic (for example, an enforceable government direction restricting non-essential businesses).
The leave is available in full immediately to full-time, part-time and casual employees – they don’t have to accrue it.
Employees don’t have to use all their paid leave before accessing unpaid pandemic leave. The leave needs to start before 30 June 2020, but can finish after that date.
All eligible employees can take the 2 weeks’ leave. It is not pro-rated for employees who don't work full-time.
Notice and evidence
An employee has to let their employer know that they’re going to take unpaid pandemic leave and the reason for taking the leave. This has to be done as soon as possible and can be after the leave has started. They should also say how long they'll be off or expect to be off work.
An employer can ask an employee to give evidence that shows why they took the leave.
An employer must not dismiss the employee or take any other adverse action against an employee because the employee is entitled to unpaid pandemic leave. Find out more about protections at work here: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employee-entitlements/protections-at-work#adverse-action
Annual leave
Under the new schedule, employees can take their annual leave at half pay, and double their time off work, if their employer agrees. This means an employee gets 1 weeks' annual leave payment (including annual leave loading if applicable) for every 2 weeks of annual leave they take.
The agreement must be in writing and the employer needs to keep it as a record. The leave needs to start before 30 June 2020, but can finish after that date.
More details are available here:
https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/documents/awardmod/variations/2020/am202012-summary-dec-080420.pdf
For more FWC Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates & advice, click here:
https://www.fwc.gov.au/about-us/coronavirus-covid-19-updates-advice
