Pandemic Leave Urgently Needed as Sick Workers Won't Stay Home

Business groups and unions are urging the federal government to introduce a paid pandemic leave scheme in order to stop workers from attending work while infectious and accelerating the transmission of COVID-19 within the community.

In a joint letter to the Federal Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter, Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott and Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said the scheme was needed to support all workers to comply with the applicable State and Territory public health directives around Covid-19 testing and isolation.

“Paid pandemic leave is now an essential public health measure that will combat the recent spike in workplace transmission in Victoria. Regrettably, recent events in Victoria have demonstrated that there are insufficient measures in place to enable workers who should not be attending their workplaces to stay home,” they said.

“The recent outbreaks in Victoria have highlighted that there are still a number of workers who are attending work whilst infectious or at risk, which is accelerating the rate of community transmission.”

“This is both harmful to the health of the community and disruptive to businesses that are now closing in increasing numbers following workplace transmission.”

Last month, Victorian Department of Health and Human Services data revealed that 90 per cent of Victorians with COVID-19 didn’t self-isolate between the onset of symptoms and the point they received a test.

McManus and Westacott said the cost of isolation was particularly burdensome for workers with inadequate sick leave, and that many businesses could not afford to provide pandemic leave under the current circumstances.

“We acknowledge the efforts of the Victorian Government to introduce its own scheme. This scheme is available to all workers who are required to isolate and do not have access to leave,” they said.

“Unfortunately, the mechanisms available to state governments to effectively implement and administer such a scheme are inadequate and consequently we have seen minimal take up over recent weeks.”

According to McManus and Westacott, the scheme should include the following principles in its design:

• Amend the Fair Work Act to incorporate a leave entitlement consistent with the decision of the Fair Work Commission in relation to the Aged Care Awards,
• Provide for reimbursement to business to facilitate the leave entitlement. Mechanisms such as those used for JobKeeper or the Paid Parental Leave payment appear appropriate,
• Funded by the Federal Government and where necessary the relevant state governments.