This afternoon we received updated guidance from the Department of Health covering changes to the payment of COVID-19 special leave and isolation requirements for health care workers.
These changes are effective from 1 October 2023.
From 1 October, if you are a full-time or part-time employee and test positive for COVID-19 you will be entitled to access your paid personal leave under the Enterprise Agreement that applies to you.
However, if you test positive for COVID-19 but have insufficient personal leave to cover some or all of the isolation period, and are unable to work from home, you will be entitled to paid special leave to cover the portion you are required to isolate that cannot be covered by personal leave.
On testing positive for COVID-19, you should stay at home for at least 5 days from the onset of symptoms (returning day 6) and until acute symptoms have resolved. Asymptomatic cases (such as close contacts testing positive) should stay at home for at least 5 days (returning day 6) from the date of taking a positive test. This is a change from the previous isolation period of 7 days.
More information
We are currently reviewing the information about COVID-19 leave and isolation periods on our COVID-19 employee website and expect to have updated material available on Monday 2 October.
For any questions in the meantime, please speak to your manager or the HR Advice line on 9265 2724 or hradvice@monashhealth.org
Approved by Martin Keogh, Interim Chief Executive