Navigating the Latest Covid-19 Changes: A guide for Employers
With the recent changes to the Covid-19 rules and regulations, we understand that you may be getting questions from your team! It’s important to understand these changes and come up with a streamlined approach.
Understanding the changes
As of August 15, 2023, there have been significant changes to Covid-19 regulations:
Isolation Requirements: The legal mandate to isolate after receiving a positive Covid-19 test result has been lifted.
Recommended Isolation Period: The suggestion from the Government is to isolate for five days following a positive Covid-19 result.
Wage Subsidy Scheme Update: The wage subsidy scheme is no longer available. Employees who started self-isolating before August 13, 2023, are still eligible for the subsidy, this can be applied for as normal.
New Cases: Employees who test positive for Covid-19 after August 15, 2023, should use sick leave if they chose to isolate.
Managing Sick-Leave Entitlements
In cases where members of your team have exhausted their sick leave entitlements there are a few options you may choose from. You will need to consider what the best option is for your business and the circumstances of the individual. You will need to mutually agree before any of the following are used:
Allow the use of annual leave
You may advance sick leave from their upcoming entitlement
Offer special paid leave
Allow leave without pay to be used, this should be a last resort
Adapting Workplace Policies
One of the most important things to consider following these changes are your workplace policies regarding Covid-19 and sickness. You need to know what happens in your organisation when someone tests positive for Covid-19 and keep this process fair for the team.
You are welcome to make changes to your current workplace policies, we recommend that you have open and honest discussions with your team to see how they feel about the changes - consultation is key! What is right for one organisation may not be right for another. In a small team we know that having people off sick can really impact your daily operations; this is something to consider.
The use of testing and masks is also something to consider, especially because as an employer you still have an obligation to provide a safe working environment for your team.
Seeking guidance
We are here to help! Please feel free to reach out to us if you are unsure about your next steps or would like support updating your Policies or Employment Agreement Templates. We would be happy to support you and your team.
Georgia Carr
HR Coordinator