The Department of Health have recently issued updated COVID-19 guidance on employment-related matters. The below webpages have been updated to reflect the new guidance.
https://coronavirus.monashhealth.org/employees/employment-conditions/
https://coronavirus.monashhealth.org/vaccination-hub/after-your-vaccination/
https://coronavirus.monashhealth.org/employees/leave/
In summary, the changes include:
- Where an employee experiences an expected adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) with the COVID-19 vaccination that either requires them to isolate or be unable to work related to the symptoms experienced, they may be entitled to paid special leave
- From 28 May 2021, to be entitled to paid special leave in these circumstances, employees are required to provide a medical certificate confirming that the reason for not attending work is due to an AEFI which either required them to isolate or as a result they were unable to work due to the symptoms experienced.
- Paid special leave is capped at a maximum of two days per COVID-19 vaccination received, or four days of leave in total across all COVID-19 vaccinations received in 2021.
- Where employees have already received a COVID-19 vaccination and took personal leave for any absence that resulted from an AEFI Monash Health will assess whether to authorise paid special leave for the absence and re-credit personal leave.
- The process for assessing the re-crediting of personal leave and authorising paid special leave for the absence includes:
- From 28 May 2021 the use of the Kronos code ‘Covid vaccine sick leave’ will not result in a reduction of an employee’s personal leave, but will be paid special leave instead, subject to the employee providing a suitable medical certificate.
- If an employee was on personal leave but the Kronos code ‘Covid vaccine sick leave’ was not used, the employee will be able to complete a Kronos amendment form as per normal practice, follow up with their manager and then log the query via the payroll portal.
- Any queries can be made to the Monash Health COVID-19 hotline on 9594 5815.
Approved by Karen Lowe