The Health Services Union has received reports that St George Aged Care management have refused sick leave applications for staff who have caught COVID. Staff have been told to take annual leave instead- which is incorrect.

The HSU was in immediate contact with management to inform them of this error. They have agreed to reverse this decision and will pay staff their appropriate leave.

If you:

• have COVID, you are sick and are entitled to take sick leave.
• don’t have enough sick leave, you can access the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment. You don’t need to use your annual leave.
• are required to isolate but don’t have COVID, you can access the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment. You don’t need to use your annual leave.
• caught COVID at work, you can also lodge a workers compensation claim as this is a work-related illness. 

I want to acknowledge those HSU members who raised their concerns. Your actions have protected sick leave entitlements for all workers at St George Aged Care.

If you know someone who isn’t a member of the HSU, let them know about their sick leave rights and what HSU members have done to protect these rights at St George. New members can join at www.hsu.asn.au/join.

In unity,

Gerard Hayes

Secretary, HSU NSW/ACT/QLD