Supporting staff

Business owners should act now to reduce the risk of a coronavirus outbreak in their workplace, and ensure a safe working environment in line with current health advice.

Preventative actions include:

• Encourage flexible working arrangements including working from home and off-peak travel.
• Purchase COVID-19 prevention supplies, for example alcohol sanitisers or soap.
• Provide and promote sanitisers for use on entering buildings.
• Ensure high standards of routine environmental cleaning.
• Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly, including desks and keyboards.
• Open windows, enhance airflow and adjust air conditioning.
• Promote preventive actions amongst your staff - lead by example.
• Avoid large indoor meetings and lunchrooms and use outdoor venues if possible.
• Plan for increased levels of staff absences.
• Plan for what to do if staff arrive sick to work.

For more information about keeping employees and customers safe during COVID-19, visit Safe Work Australia.

The Fair Work Act does not have specific rules where employees are delayed overseas or in quarantine, so employees and employers need to come to their own arrangement. This may include:

• taking sick leave if the employee is sick
• taking annual leave
• taking any other leave available to them (such as long service leave or any other leave available under an award, enterprise agreement or contract of employment)
• arranging any other paid or unpaid leave by agreement between the employee and the employer.

For further information, you can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 or visit Fair Work Ombudsman.