Lockdowns are happening across Australia, at a moment’s notice, causing many industries to be paused until restrictions are eased and lockdowns are lifted.
As the economic climate and public health directives change, Domestic Payroll works with you by; staying on top of the new rules that effect domestic staff, keeping you updated on employment standards and placing your service on hold as required at no cost.
As we all start to return to a normal way of living and with the roll out of vaccines starting to take place across Australia, the Department of Health has provided online training for a number of industries including primary carers. As childcare workers, the Covid-19 infectious control online training may be of interest.
We have communicated throughout the year on the ever changing and challenging Covid health crisis and how we can remain safe for our families, our staff and the public in general. Continue reading Covid Safety Check→
At the beginning of the Covid 19 lockdowns, we advised transparent communications between employers and employees on the health and safety for your families and employees. To review this advice refer to this article and others we have posted through the pandemic on the Domestic Payroll website. Continue reading Covid Safe WHS Guidelines→
The Miscellaneous Award recently incurred a temporary schedule amendment due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The schedule provides employees with two weeks unpaid pandemic leave and the ability to take twice as much accrued leave at half pay.
As most Australian states are discussing stage 3 lockdowns, we understand these are quite concerning, if not terrifying realities to our communities. Each state and territory managing their individual regions, please refer to the latest public health orders to your area. At this stage, the NSW and Victorian governments have released what this would look like and those who need to travel to care for children are still classified as essential services. Please see the links below and the advice your region.
Information being delivered from Federal Government to assist small and medium business in maintaining their staff during the Covid-19 health crisis is evolving quickly. We have been watching these announcements closely to keep you, as employers, as up to date as possible with additional funding you may be able to access in order to maintain your nannies employment. As communicated last week, a temporary cash flow supplement will be released automatically to businesses whose withhold tax activity remains active until September 2020. This supplement will automatically be applied as a credit on your activity statements until September 2020. See the link below.
This is an extremely difficult time for all employers and employees. Nannies and au pairs are (except for WA) covered by the Miscellaneous Award and are entitled to all the associated benefits around leave and termination.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has a very comprehensive list of alternate scenarios that may be occurring due to the health crisis created by COVID-19.
Over the last week, we have been, like you are, keeping a keen eye on the advice being handed down by government agencies, especially in relation to childcare, school closures and healthcare.
There is no denying it, these are uncertain times and official advice is changing rapidly regarding our way of life. As it stands, all businesses are preparing to adhere to the new shut down regulations except for essential services. We have been receiving a number of questions pertaining to nanny services being considered essential.
We have been receiving a number of enquiries relating to the ‘what ifs’ around employer/ employee relations with the current health discussions pertaining to the Coronavirus. We do understand that everyone has their own opinions and this advice is of a general nature.
Most work places have begun restricting staff can and cannot do to control the impact the virus could have to ongoing business and the health of staff. We understand that some companies have stopped interstate and international business travel as well as cancelling conferences and other face to face meetings. In the majority of these cases, business can be conducted remotely and the need for face to face contact can be avoided.