Self-isolation is an important way to slow the spread of COVID-19.
From 17 March 2020 the Government’s COVID-19 Leave Payment will be available to support people financially if they need to self-isolate, cannot work because they are sick with COVID-19 or cannot work because they are caring for dependents who are required to self-isolate or who are sick with COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Leave Payment will be available for 8 weeks from 17 March 2020. Employers will be able to apply for this more than once. It will be paid to employers who have eligible employees and they must pass the payment onto their employees in full.
The decisions you need to make as an Employer in light of this are:
Will you ‘top up’ the subsidised payment from the Government to employees?
And will you have a different approach to this for a team member’s second or third period of COVID-19 Leave Payment?
If yes, will you take the equivalent of this ‘top up’ amount from the team member’s sick leave (this can only be done if the reason they are taking the leave also falls with in the criteria for sick leave), from annual leave (this can only be done with the team member’s agreement) or will you pay without any deduction from any leave entitlement?