Workers in the community sector should not be required to use their own personal leave if they are exposed to COVID-19 while at work.
With high daily COVID-19 infection in Victoria, it’s likely workers in the community sector who work directly with clients will be exposed to COVID -19 in the coming months.
At the very least, this will mean taking time to test and isolate, and at worst, it could mean contracting the virus and becoming ill.
And authorised workers in the sector who do not have a medical exemption will need to be double vaccinated by 26 November to work on site.
The ASU recently wrote to the coordinating minister for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Richard Wynne, asking the government to fund isolation leave for workers who need to take time off due to COVID-19 exposure and two half-days for vaccination leave.
Providing leave to isolate and vaccinate would be consistent with the leave provided to public sector workers.
The Andrews Government needs to stand by community sector workers who provide essential supports to Victorians in their moment of need.
This claim forms part of the ASU’s Essential Not Expendable campaign. You can learn more about the campaign here.
