Articles | Confused about COVID-19 requirements in the workplace?

 

 

 

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Confused about COVID-19 requirements in the workplace? Read on as we unpack what the Building Award says

Entering into our third year of the COVID-19 pandemic employees continue to ask questions about isolation and leave. How can the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 help?

Building Award and employee leave   

The Building Award references the Fair Work Act 2009 when it comes to leave. Schedule X of the Building Award, which has recently been extended to 30 June 2022 additionally allows employees in the civil industry to take:

  • two weeks of unpaid pandemic leave; or
  • the ability to take twice as much annual leave at half their normal pay if their employer agrees (if the leave starts before 31 December 2021).

What the Fair Work Act tells us about isolation requirements

In addition to Schedule X of the Building Award, the Fair Work Act 2009 sets out a robust methodology for determining which leave can be sought by employees. In particular, if an employee is:

  • COVID-19 positive, they are entitled to receive sick leave upon supplying a doctor’s certificate or evidence of a positive COVID-19 test result;
  • a close/household contact and is:
    • required to self-isolate due to a government direction or public health order, they aren’t entitled to be paid (unless the employee uses their paid leave entitlements);
    • directed to self-isolate by their employer, then full-time and part-time employees only are entitled to receive their base rate of pay

No doubt for many employers it can be a daunting process trying to interpret the Building Award and Fair Work Act, however ICI has a range of upcoming courses to help those who recruit, employ or manage people in the civil construction industry better understand both the Building Award and Fair Work Act. Please check out the link below to book your spot for our next course on the Building Award!

To stay up to date with industry news, events and training opportunities, follow the ICI LinkedIn page.

By Peter Hindeleh, Workplace Relations Officer, Civil Contractors Federation NSW 

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