Stormy times: your guide to paying staff during severe weather events
Although Christmas is fast approaching, it so often brings with it inclement weather. To ensure staff safety, practices should have a ready emergency plan whereby the practice can ensure staff are safe at this time.
It is a good idea to practice the emergency plan as you would your fire safety plan. This is to ensure staff are contactable with their contact details up-to-date.
If the practice remains open then staff would be paid as normal, however, if staff have trouble attending the practice then:
- you can invite the employee to take the time off as paid annual leave
- consider any options for an employee to work at an alternative location
- flexible working arrangements, like working from home if their position allows it.
If none of the above options are possible then the practice can direct staff not to attend work while the practice temporarily closes due to safety concerns.
The Workplace Relations Team has lent their expertise to the development of a Natural Disaster and Emergency Frequently Asked Questions document which answers both employer and employee most commonly asked questions.
If you have been affected by a natural disaster, support is available.
- Australian Government Disaster Assist – or call 180 22 66.
- Recovery after a disaster – or call 1800 173 349.
- Information on Workplace Rights – or call 13 13 94.
- Services Australia (Centrelink) – or call 1300 169 468.
- Lifeline – or call 13 11 14.
- Beyond Blue – or call 1300 224 636.