AW806214 PR902435

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AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION

Workplace Relations Act 1996

Review of award pursuant to Item 51 of Part 2 of Schedule 5 of the

Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996

(C No. 00623 of 1999)

HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE AWARD 1995

(ODN C No. 33499 of 1995)

[Print P0401 [H0607]]

Various employees

Public and private sector

   

COMMISSIONER SIMMONDS

MELBOURNE, 16 MARCH 2001

Award simplification.

ORDER

A. Further to the decision issued by the Commission in transcript at Melbourne on 8 February 2001 the above award is varied as follows:

By deleting all clauses, and the alphabetical index and inserting the following:

PART 1 - APPLICATION AND OPERATION OF AWARD

1. TITLE

This award is known as the Home and Community Care Award 2001.

2. ARRANGEMENT

This award is arranged as follows:

Part 1 - Application and Operation of Award

1. Title

2. Arrangement

3. Anti-discrimination

4. Previous award superseded

5. Definitions

6. Commencement date of award and period of operation

7. Coverage of award

8. Parties bound

Part 2 - Award Flexibility

9. Enterprise flexibility

Part 3 - Consultation and dispute resolution

10. Procedures for the avoidance of industrial disputes

Part 4 - Employer and employees' duties, employment relationship and related

arrangements

11. Employment relationship

12. Redundancy

13. Notice of termination

Part 5 - Wages and related matters

14. Classifications and wage rates

15. Supported wage system for employees with disabilities

16. Staff development

17. Allowances

18. Superannuation

Part 6 - Hours of Works, Breaks, Overtime, Shift Work, Weekend Work

19. Hours of work

20. Breaks

21. Overtime

Part 7 - Leave Entitlements

22. Annual leave

23. Jury service

24. Accident pay

25. Trade union training leave

26. Parental leave

27. Personal leave

28. Long service leave

29. Public holidays

Part 8 - Training and Related Matters

30. Training program

Part 9 - Award Compliance and Union Related Matters

31. Time and wages records

3. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

3.1 It is the intention of the parties to this award to achieve the principal object in s.3(j) of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 through respecting and valuing the diversity of the workforce by helping to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin.

3.2 Accordingly, in fulfilling their obligations under the dispute avoidance and settling clause, the respondents make every endeavour to ensure that neither the award provisions nor their operation are directly or indirectly discriminatory in their effects.

3.3 Nothing in this clause is to be taken to affect:

3.3.1 any different treatment (or treatment having different effects) which is specifically exempted under the Commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation;

3.3.2 junior rates of pay, until 22 June 2000 or later date determined by the Commission in accordance with s.143(1E) of the Act;

3.3.3 an employee, employer or registered organisation, pursuing matters of discrimination in any State or federal jurisdiction, including by application to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission;

3.3.4 the exemptions in ss.170CK(3) and (4) of the Act.

4. PREVIOUS AWARD SUPERSEDED

This award supersedes the requirements of the Home and Community Care Award 1995 [Print P0401 [H0607]].

5. DEFINITIONS

5.1 Act means the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

5.2 AIRC means the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

5.3 Award means the Home and Community Care Award 2001.

5.4 Casual employee shall mean an employee who is engaged in relieving work or work of a casual nature and who is engaged and paid by the hour, but does not include an employee who could properly be classified as a full-time or part-time employee.

5.5 Company means Glad Pty. Ltd.

5.6 Employee means an employee of Glad Pty. Ltd.

5.7 Home care worker means a person employed to perform tasks involving the provision of domestic assistance. Work in this category would involve undertaking a range of domestic assistance and support functions including the following:

5.8 Personal care worker means a person employed to perform tasks involving the provision of personal care and personal support functions. Work in this category would involve undertaking a range of personal care and personal support functions including the following:

5.9 Overnight care means a person employed to be available for duty in a client's home for an eight or ten hour period. During this period, the employee is required to provide a total of no more than three hours of care.

5.10 24 hour care means a person employed to be available for duty in a client's home for a 24 hour period. During this period the employee is required to provide the client with the care services specified in the care plan. During this period, the employee is required to provide a total of no more than ten hours of care.

5.11 Ordinary rate means the weekly rate of wage or salary an employee receives.

5.12 Permanent part-time employee means an employee who is employed on a permanent basis but owing to the requirements of the job on which such person is employed the hours of duty are less than 38 hours per week.

5.13 Union means The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union.

6. COMMENCEMENT DATE OF AWARD AND PERIOD OF OPERATION

This award shall come into operation from the first pay period to commence on or after 8 February 2001 and shall remain in force for a period of one month.

7. COVERAGE OF AWARD

This award covers all employees of Glad Pty. Ltd. undertaking home care, personal care, overnight care and 24 hour care.

8. PARTIES BOUND

This award shall be binding on:

8.1 Glad Pty. Ltd. (the employer);

8.2 the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, (the Union);

8.3 all Employees of Glad Pty. Ltd. who are eligible for membership of the Australian Services Union, (the employees).

PART 2 - AWARD FLEXIBILITY

9. ENTERPRISE FLEXIBILITY

(Refer ss 113A and 113B of the Workplace Relations Act 1996)

Where an employer or employee wish to pursue an agreement at the enterprise or workplace about how the award should be varied so as to make the enterprise or workplace operate more effectively, according to its particular needs, the following process will apply:

9.1 A consultative mechanism and procedures appropriate to the size, structure and needs of the enterprise or workplace will be established.

9.2 For the purpose of the consultative process the employees by a simple majority vote of the employees in the affected enterprise or workplace may nominate the Union or another party to represent them.

9.3 Where agreement is reached an application will be made to the Commission.

PART 3 - CONSULTATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

10. PROCEDURES FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

10.1 Subject to the provisions of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (as varied from time to time) a grievance or issue arising between the Company and an employee or employees shall be dealt with within the following procedures:

10.1.1 If a matter arises which gives concern to an employee or employees such matter shall be discussed by him or her or them with the immediate supervisor.

10.1.2 If after such discussion the matter remains unresolved within two working days it shall be referred to the accredited representative of the Union or other nominated representative who shall discuss the matter with an appropriate representative of the Company's management.

10.1.3 Failure to resolve the matter within a further two working days shall result in the matter being referred to an officer of the Union or other nominated representative. Such officer shall discuss the issues with the appropriate management representative and both shall take all reasonable steps to settle the matter without delay.

10.1.4 If the matter remains unresolved within a reasonable time then the matter shall be discussed between the Branch Secretary or other appropriate official of the Union and a management representative.

10.1.5 If settlement of the matter(s) in dispute is not achieved within a reasonable time the matter shall be notified to the AIRC for conciliation. If such conciliation is unsuccessful, then if both parties consent, the matter can be referred to the AIRC for arbitration. When arbitration is agreed to by both parties, then the AIRC's decision will be accepted by all parties subject to legal rights of appeal.

10.2 Whilst the above procedures are being followed, work shall continue as it was prior to the dispute. No party shall be prejudiced as to final settlement by the continuance of work in accordance with this clause.

10.3 This clause shall not apply to any dispute that is a bona fide safety issue which shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures of the Occupational Health and Safety Act Victoria (1985).

PART 4 - EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEES' DUTIES, EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP AND RELATED ARRANGEMENTS

11. EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP

11.1 Multi-skilling

11.1.1 The Company may direct an employee to carry out such duties as are within the limits of the employee's skill, competence and training, provided such duties do not promote a narrowing of the employee's skill base.

11.1.2 Provided that where an employee is directed to carry out any work within his/her classification band or work of a lower band, such work shall be performed without reduction in salary.

11.1.3 Provided further that where an employee is directed to carry out work of a higher band, the provisions of the higher duties clause of this award shall apply.

11.1.4 Any direction issued under this clause shall be consistent with an employer's obligation to provide a safe and healthy working environment.

11.2 Full-time employment

11.3 Part-time employment

11.4 Permanent part-time employment with loading

11.5 Employment for a specific period of time or specific task or tasks

11.6 Casual employment

11.6.1 A casual employee is one who is engaged and paid as such.

11.6.2 A casual employee shall be paid a 20% loading on all ordinary hours which is in lieu of annual leave, sick leave and public holidays.

11.6.3 All other award penalty loadings will be paid to casual employees but are to be based on the ordinary hourly rate.

11.7 Probationary employment

11.7.1 Employees may be employed on a probationary basis for their first three months of employment.

11.7.2 An employee who has been employed subject to a probationary period may be terminated at any time during that period without notice and without recourse to remedies for unfair dismissal, pursuant to the terms of the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

12. REDUNDANCY

12.1 Severance pay

12.1.1 In addition to the period of notice prescribed for ordinary termination in clause 13 - Notice of termination, and subject to further order of the Commission, an employee whose employment is terminated shall be entitled to the following amount of severance pay in respect of a continuous period of service:

12.1.2 Week's pay means the ordinary time rate of pay for the employee concerned.

12.1.3 Provided that the severance payments shall not exceed the amount which the employee would have earned if employment with the employer had proceeded to the employee's normal retirement date.

12.2 Employee leaving during notice

12.3 Alternative employment

12.4 Time off during notice period

12.4.1 During the period of notice of termination given by the employer an employee shall be allowed up to one day's time off without loss of pay during each week of notice for the purpose of seeking other employment.

12.4.2 If the employee has been allowed paid leave for more than one day during the notice period for the purpose of seeking other employment, the employee shall, at the request of the employer, be required to produce proof of attendance at an interview or he or she shall not receive payment for the time absent.

12.4.3 For this purpose a statutory declaration will be sufficient.

12.5 Employees with less than one year's service

12.6 Employees exempted

12.7 Employers exempted

12.8 Incapacity to pay

13. NOTICE OF TERMINATION

13.1 Notice of termination by employer

13.1.1 In order to terminate the employment of an employee the employer shall give to the employee the following notice:

13.1.2 In addition to the notice in clause 13.1.1 hereof, employees over 45 years of age at the time of the giving of the notice with not less than two years continuous service, shall be entitled to an additional week's notice.

13.1.3 Payment in lieu of the notice prescribed in clauses 13.1.1 and/or 13.1.2 hereof shall be made if the appropriate notice period is not given. Provided that employment may be terminated by part of the period of notice specified and part payment in lieu thereof.

13.1.4 In calculating any payment in lieu of notice the wages an employee would have received in respect of the ordinary time he or she would have worked during the period of notice had his or her employment not been terminated shall be used.

13.1.5 The period of notice in this clause shall not apply in the case of dismissal for conduct that justifies instant dismissal, including malingering, inefficiency or neglect of duty, or in the case of casual employees, apprentices, or employees engaged for a specific period of time or for a specific task or tasks.

13.1.6 For the purposes of this clause, continuity of service shall be calculated the manner prescribed by the calculation of continuous service provision of this award.

13.2 Notice of termination by employee

13.2.1 The notice of termination required to be given by an employee shall be the same as that required of an employer, save and except that there shall be no additional notice based on the age of the employee concerned.

13.2.2 If an employee fails to give notice the employer shall have the right to withhold moneys due to the employee with a maximum amount equal to the ordinary time rate of pay for the period of notice.

13.3 Time off during notice period

PART 5 - WAGES AND RELATED MATTERS

14. CLASSIFICATIONS AND WAGE RATES

14.1 Wage rates

14.1.1 Wage rates - home and personal care workers

14.1.2 Wages rates per shift 24 hour care

14.1.3 Wages rates per shift - overnight care

14.1.4 The rates of pay in this award include the arbitrated safety net adjustment payable under the Safety Net Review - Wages May 2000 decision [Print S5000]. This arbitrated safety net adjustment may be offset against any equivalent amount in rates of pay received by employees whose wages and conditions of employment are regulated by this award which are above the wage rates prescribed in the award. Such above award payments include wages payable pursuant to certified agreements, currently operating enterprise flexibility agreements, Australian workplace agreements, award variations to give effect to enterprise agreements and overaward arrangements. Absorption which is contrary to the terms of an agreement is not required.

14.2 Classifications

14.2.1 Employee - band 1

14.2.2 Employee - band 2

14.2.3 Employee - band 3

14.2.4 Employee - band 4

14.2.5 Employee - band 5

14.2.6 Definitions of Levels for 24 Hour Care and Overnight care

14.3 Position descriptions

14.3.1 The Company shall provide to each employee a position description which will clearly identify as a minimum:

14.3.2 The position description shall be reviewed by the employer in consultation with the employee concerned at least annually.

15. SUPPORTED WAGE SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES

15.1 This clause defines the conditions which will apply to employees who because of the effects of a disability are eligible for a supported wage under the terms of this award. In the context of this clause, the following definitions will apply:

15.1.1 Supported wage system means the Commonwealth Government system to promote employment for people who cannot work at full award wages because of a disability, as documented in Supported Wage System: Guidelines and Assessment Process.

15.1.2 Accredited assessor means a person accredited by the management unit established by the Commonwealth under the Supported Wage System to perform assessments of an individual's productive capacity within the Supported Wage System.

15.1.3 Disability support pension means the Commonwealth pension scheme to provide income security for persons with a disability as provided under the Social Security Act 1991, as amended from time to time, or any successor to that scheme.

15.1.4 Assessment instrument means the form provided for under the Supported Wage System that records the assessment of the productive capacity of the person to be employed under the supported wage system.

15.2 Eligibility criteria

15.2.1 Employees covered by this clause will be those who are unable to perform the range of duties to the competence level required within the class of work for which the employee is engaged under this award, because of the effects of a disability on their productive capacity and who meet the impairment criteria for receipt of a Disability Support Pension.

15.2.2 This clause does not apply to any existing employee who has a claim against the employer which is subject to the provisions of workers' compensation legislation or any provision of this award relating to the rehabilitation of employees who are injured in the course of their employment.

15.2.3 This clause does not apply to employers in respect of their facility, programme, undertaking service or the like which receives funding under the Disability Services Act 1986 and fulfils the dual role of service provider and sheltered employer to people with disabilities who are in receipt of or are eligible for a Disability Support Pension, except with respect to an organisation which has received recognition under s.10 or under s.12A of the Disability Services Act, or if a part only has received recognition, that part.

15.3 Supported wage rates

15.3.1 Employees to whom this clause applies shall be paid the applicable percentage of the minimum rate of pay prescribed by this award for the class of work which the person is performing according the following schedule:

15.3.2 Provided that the minimum amount payable shall be not less than $50 per week.

15.3.3 Where a person's assessed capacity is 10%, they shall receive a high degree of assistance and support.

15.4 Assessment of capacity

15.4.1 the employer and a union party to the award, in consultation with the employee or, if desired by any of these;

15.4.2 the employer and an accredited assessor from a panel agreed by the parties to the award and the employee.

15.5 Lodgment of assessment instrument

15.5.1 All assessment instruments under the conditions of this clause, including the appropriate percentage of the award wage to be paid to the employee, shall be lodged by the employer with the Registrar of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

15.5.2 All assessment instruments shall be agreed and signed by the parties to the assessment, provided that where a union which is party to the award, is not a party to the assessment, it shall be referred by the Registrar to the union by certified mail and shall take effect unless an objection is notified to the Registrar within ten working days.

15.6 Review of assessment

15.7 Other terms and conditions of employment

15.8 Workplace adjustment

15.9 Trial period

15.9.1 In order for an adequate assessment of the employee's capacity to be made, an employer may employ a person under the provisions of this clause for a trial period not exceeding twelve weeks, except that in some cases additional work adjustment time (not exceeding four weeks) may be needed.

15.9.2 During that trial period the assessment of capacity shall be undertaken and the proposed wage rate for a continuing employment relationship shall be determined.

15.9.3 The minimum amount payable to the employee during the trial period shall be no less than $50 per week.

15.9.4 Work trials should include induction or training as appropriate to the job being trailed.

15.9.5 Where the employer and employee wish to establish a continuing employment relationship following the completion of the trial period, a further contract of employment shall be entered into based on the outcome of assessment under clause 15.4.

16. STAFF DEVELOPMENT

16.1 Staff development scheme

16.1.1 A Staff Development Strategy will be developed by the employer to meet the overall goals of the organisation, implement best practice and promote the training and skill development of employees.

16.1.2 The employer-employee consultative committee will be consulted in regard to the staff development scheme.

16.1.3 The details of the Staff Development Strategy will be developed after consultation with the Consultative Committee.

16.1.4 As a minimum, the Staff Development Scheme will include:

16.2 Annual review

16.2.1 The employer shall undertake an annual review and performance appraisal for all employees, around the anniversary date of their appointment.

16.2.2 As a minimum, each review shall include:

17. Allowances

17.1 Where the caregiver is required to travel more than 30 kilometres from his/her home, or the nearest Silver Circle office, (whichever is the lesser), to the first point of service for a period of work of less than three hours duration, the caregiver shall be paid a transport allowance of 0.60 cents per kilometre.

17.2 The employer will pay an allowance of 0.60 cents per kilometre to an employee who is required to use his or her own motor vehicle in the performance of the duties specified in the employer's care plan for a client.

17.3 An employee seeking payment of the travel allowance will maintain a signed logbook recording the date, time, distances and reasons for the travel which must be provided to the employer upon request. The employee will make claims for travel allowance on his or her fortnightly time sheet.

17.4 An employee will not be entitled to the travelling allowance for travel to and from the client's premises.

17.5 The employer will provide an employee with two pinafores to be worn in the provision of home and personal care services and the employee is responsible for the laundering and upkeep of such uniform. These uniforms will remain the property of the employer at all times.

18. SUPERANNUATION

Superannuation entitlements apply from the date of the employee's commencement of employment and are in accordance with the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Commonwealth) as varied from time to time.

PART 6 - HOURS OF WORK, BREAKS, OVERTIME, SHIFT WORK, WEEKEND WORK

19. HOURS OF WORK

19.1 General home care workers

19.1.1 A general home care worker will be paid in accordance with clause 14.1.1 for all time worked between the hours of 6.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. Monday to Sunday (the spread of hours).

19.1.2 All work performed outside the spread of hours attracts a 50% loading on the ordinary hourly rate.

19.2 Personal care worker

19.2.1 A personal care worker will be paid in accordance with 14.1.1, for all time worked over the period Monday to Sunday.

19.2.2 Unless otherwise agreed, all employees will ordinarily be entitled to a minimum of ten hours break between finishing work on one day and commencing work on the next.

19.3 Overnight care

19.3.1 An employee engaged for an overnight shift will be paid in accordance with the wage rates in clause 14.1.3.

19.3.2 An overnight care shift requires an employee to be available for duty in a client's home for a ten hour period. During this period, the employee is required to provide a total of three hours of general home care services or personal home care services.

19.3.3 An overnight care shift will be worked between the hours of 7.30 p.m. and 8.30 a.m. although the employer and employee may agree to vary these hours.

19.3.4 If an employee believes that more than three hours' personal or home care services are required to be provided during an overnight care shift, the employee will advise his or her Service Co-ordinator. If the Service Co-ordinator obtains the permission of the client to perform the additional services, the Service Co-ordinator will notify the employee accordingly and the employee will be paid for the performance of the additional services as follows:

19.3.5 An employee will normally have the opportunity to sleep during an overnight care shift and where appropriate, a bed in a private room will be provided for the employee.

19.4 24 hour care

19.4.1 A 24 hour care shift requires an employee to be available for duty in a client's home for a 24 hour period. During this period, the employee is required to provide the client with the services specified in the care plan.

19.4.2 An employee will normally have the opportunity to sleep during a 24 hour care shift and where appropriate, a bed in a private room will be provided for the employee.

20. BREAKS

20.1 Alteration of meal breaks

21. OVERTIME

21.1 Payment for working overtime

21.1.1 time and a half for the first three hours and double time thereafter Monday to Saturday; and

21.1.2 double time all day Sunday.

PART 7 - LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

22. ANNUAL LEAVE

22.1 Annual leave

22.1.1 Period of annual leave

22.2 Annual leave loading

23. JURY SERVICE

23.1 A permanent employee required to attend for jury service during his/her ordinary working hours shall be reimbursed by the employer an amount equal to the difference between the amount paid in respect of their attendance for such jury service and the amount of wage they would have received in respect of the ordinary time he/she would have worked had they not been on jury service.

23.2 An employee shall notify the employer as soon as possible of the date on which they are required to attend for jury service. Further the employee shall give the employer proof of their attendance, the duration of such attendance and the amount received in respect of such jury service.

24. ACCIDENT PAY

From the commencement of this Agreement, where an employee meets with an accident at their place of employment and is subject to and qualifies for compensation under the Accident Compensation Act presently in force in the applicable State, such employee shall have the amount received by way of compensation increased by the employer to the amount of the usual weekly rate under this agreement that is applicable at the time of the accident. Payments to be made by the employer under this clause shall be limited to a maximum period of 26 weeks.

25. DISPUTE SETTLING PROCEDURES

A workplace or employee representative who is required to assist in solving disputes shall be granted paid leave to undertake agreed training for such purposes. Leave shall be granted provided that :

· The scope, content and level of courses are directed to the understanding and enhancement of dispute resolution procedures;

· The timing and duration is taken into consideration;

· The employer is able to make adequate operational arrangements during the period of such leave;

· Other similar leave is taken into consideration.

26. PARENTAL LEAVE

The provisions of this clause apply to full-time and regular part-time employees, but do not apply to casual employees.

Subject to the terms of this clause employees are entitled to maternity, paternity and adoption leave and to work part-time in connection with the birth or adoption of a child.

26.1 Definitions

26.1.1 For the purpose of this clause child means a child of the employee under the age of one year except for adoption of a child where `child' means a person under the age of five years who is placed with the employee for the purposes of adoption, other than a child or step-child of the employee or of the spouse of the employee or a child who has previously lived continuously with the employee for a period of six months or more.

26.1.2 Subject to clause 26.1.3, in this clause, spouse includes a de facto or former spouse.

26.1.3 In relation to clause 26.5, spouse includes a de facto spouse but does not include a former spouse.

26.2 Basic entitlement

26.2.1 After twelve months continuous service, parents are entitled to a combined total of 52 weeks unpaid parental leave on a shared basis in relation to the birth or adoption of their child. For females, maternity leave may be taken and for males, paternity leave may be taken. Adoption leave may be taken in the case of adoption.

26.2.2 Subject to 26.3.6, parental leave is to be available to only one parent at a time, in a single unbroken period, except that both parents may simultaneously take:

26.3 Maternity leave

26.3.1 An employee must provide notice to the employer in advance of the expected date of commencement of parental leave. The notice requirements are:

26.3.2 When the employee gives notice under 26.3.1(a) the employee must also provide a statutory declaration stating particulars of any period of paternity leave sought or taken by her spouse and that for the period of maternity leave she will not engage in any conduct inconsistent with her contract of employment.

26.3.3 An employee will not be in breach of this clause if failure to give the stipulated notice is occasioned by confinement occurring earlier than the presumed date.

26.3.4 Subject to clause 26.2.1 and unless agreed otherwise between the employer and employee, an employee may commence parental leave at any time within six weeks immediately prior to the expected date of birth.

26.3.5 Where an employee continues to work within the six week period immediately prior to the expected date of birth, or where the employee elects to return to work within six weeks after the birth of the child, an employer may require the employee to provide a medical certificate stating that she is fit to work on her normal duties.

26.3.6 Special maternity leave

26.3.7 Where leave is granted under clause 26.3.4, during the period of leave an employee may return to work at any time, as agreed between the employer and the employee provided that time does not exceed four weeks from the recommencement date desired by the employee.

26.4 Paternity leave

26.4.1 An employee will provide to the employer at least ten weeks prior to each proposed period of paternity leave, with:

26.4.2 The employee will not be in breach of clause 26.4.1 if the failure to give the required period of notice is because of the birth occurring earlier than expected, the death of the mother of the child, or other compelling circumstances.

26.5 Adoption leave

26.5.1 The employee will notify the employer at least ten weeks in advance of the date of commencement of adoption leave and the period of leave to be taken. An employee may commence adoption leave prior to providing such notice, where through circumstances beyond the control of the employee, the adoption of a child takes place earlier.

26.5.2 Before commencing adoption leave, an employee will provide the employer with a statutory declaration stating:

26.5.3 An employer may require an employee to provide confirmation from the appropriate government authority of the placement.

26.5.4 Where the placement of a child for adoption with an employee does not proceed or continue, the employee will notify the employer immediately and the employer will nominate a time not exceeding four weeks from receipt of notification for the employee's return to work.

26.5.5 An employee will not be in breach of this clause as a consequence of failure to give the stipulated periods of notice if such failure results from a requirement of an adoption agency to accept earlier or later placement of a child, the death of a spouse, or other compelling circumstances.

26.5.6 An employee seeking to adopt a child is entitled to unpaid leave for the purpose of attending any compulsory interviews or examinations as are necessary as part of the adoption procedure. The employee and the employer should agree on the length of the unpaid leave. Where agreement cannot be reached, the employee is entitled to take up to two days unpaid leave. Where paid leave is available to the employee, the employer may require the employee to take such leave instead.

26.6 Variation of period of parental leave

26.7 Parental leave and other entitlements

26.8 Transfer to a safe job

26.8.1 Where an employee is pregnant and, in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner, illness or risks arising out of the pregnancy or hazards connected with the work assigned to the employee make it inadvisable for the employee to continue at her present work, the employee will, if the employer deems it practicable, be transferred to a safe job at the rate and on the conditions attaching to that job until the commencement of maternity leave.

26.8.2 If the transfer to a safe job is not practicable, the employee may elect, or the employer may require the employee to commence parental leave for such period as is certified necessary by a registered medical practitioner.

26.9 Returning to work after a period of parental leave

26.9.1 An employee will notify of their intention to return to work after a period of parental leave at least four weeks prior to the expiration of the leave.

26.9.2 An employee will be entitled to the position which they held immediately before proceeding on parental leave. In the case of an employee transferred to a safe job pursuant to clause 26.8, the employee will be entitled to return to the position they held immediately before such transfer.

26.9.3 Where such position no longer exists but there are other positions available which the employee is qualified for and is capable of performing, the employee will be entitled to a position as nearly comparable in status and pay to that of their former position.

26.10 Replacement employees

26.10.1 A replacement employee is an employee specifically engaged or temporarily promoted or transferred, as a result of an employee proceeding on parental leave.

26.10.2 Before an employer engages a replacement employee the employer must inform that person of the temporary nature of the employment and of the rights of the employee who is being replaced.

27. PERSONAL LEAVE

27.1 Amount of paid personal/carer's leave

27.2 Immediate family or household

27.2.1 The entitlement to use bereavement leave/compassionate leave and carer's leave in accordance with this clause is subject to the person being either:

27.2.2 The term immediate family includes:

27.3 Personal sick leave

27.3.1 An employee is entitled to the following amount of paid leave for absence due to personal illness or injury:

27.3.2 Leave taken by an employee under this paragraph is deducted from the amount of personal/carer's leave under 28.1.

27.3.3 An employee is entitled to use accumulated sick leave for personal sickness if the employee has already used:

27.4 Bereavement/compassionate leave

27.4.1 An employee is entitled to three days paid leave on each occasion if a member of the employee's immediate family or household dies.

27.4.2 Each day or part of a day used under 28.4 is deducted from the amount of personal/carer's leave under 28.1.

27.4.2 An employee is entitled to use accumulated sick leave as paid bereavement leave/compassionate leave up to 2 days when a member of the employee's immediate family or household dies and the employee has already used the current year's personal/carer's leave entitlement under 28.1.

27.4.3 An employee is entitled to use unpaid leave up to three days when a member of the employee's immediate family or household dies if the employee has already used the current year's personal/carer's leave entitlement under 28.1 and no accumulated sick leave is available.

27.4.1 Proof of death must be provided to the satisfaction of the employer, if requested.

27.5 Carer's leave

27.5.1 An employee with responsibilities in relation to either members of their immediate family or household is entitled to use up to five days per annum of their personal/carer's leave entitlement to provide care and support for such persons when they are ill. Leave may be taken for part of a single day.

27.5.2 The entitlement to use personal/carer's leave is subject to the employee being responsible for the care of the person concerned.

27.5.3 The employee must, if required by the employer, establish by production of a medical certificate or statutory declaration, the illness of the person concerned and that the illness is such as to require care by another.

27.5.4 In normal circumstances an employee must not take carer's leave under this clause where another person has taken leave to care for the same person.

27.5.5 The employee must, where practicable, give the employer notice prior to the absence of the intention to take leave, the name of the person requiring care and their relationship to the employee, the reasons for taking such leave and the estimated length of absence. If it is not practicable for the employee to give prior notice of absence, the employee must notify the employer by telephone of such absence at the first opportunity on the day of absence.

27.5.6 Each day or part of a day of carer's leave taken in accordance with this paragraph is to be deducted from the amount of personal/carer's leave provided in 28.1 up to a maximum of five days per annum.

27.5.7 An employee is entitled to use accumulated sick leave as paid carer's leave if the employee has used the current year's personal/carer's leave entitlement. An exception to this is where an employee has already taken five days carer's leave in the current year.

27.6 Unpaid carer's leave

28. LONG SERVICE LEAVE

Employees are entitled to long service leave in accordance with the provisions of the relevant State legislation.

29. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

29.1 Prescribed public holidays

29.1.1 An employee other than a casual employee and permanent part time employees shall be entitled to holidays on the following days:

29.1.2 Days in lieu

29.1.3 Where public holidays are declared or prescribed for the State of Victoria on days other than those set out in 29.1 and 29.1.1 above, those days shall constitute additional holidays for the purpose of this award.

29.2 Substitute days

29.2.1 The Company and the majority of employees in a work area may agree to substitute another day for any prescribed in this clause.

29.2.2 An agreement pursuant to 29.2.1 shall be recorded in writing and be available to every affected employee.

29.3 Minimum payment - public holidays

29.4 An employee required to work on a holiday as defined in this clause between the hours of work as defined in clause 19 shall be paid at 1-1/2 times the ordinary prescribed rate for all time worked; and if required to work on a holiday outside the hours of work as specified in clause 19, he/she shall be paid at 2-1/2 times his/her ordinary prescribed rate for all time worked.

29.5 If a holiday as set out in 29.2 of this clause occurs during a period of illness of an employee engaged by the week, such employee shall be entitled to payment for such holiday, provided that satisfactory evidence of such sickness is furnished to the employer by or on behalf of such employee, and provided further that such period of illness has not been of more than one month's duration at such date.

29.6 Absence before or after a public holiday

29.7 Rostered day off falling on a public holiday

29.7.1 Should an employee be rostered off on a day on which a public holiday falls, he/she shall be entitled to an equivalent time off in one period without loss of pay not later than three months after the entitlement accrued, and where practicable during the week following.

29.7.2 Provided that, where an employee is absent from his or her employment on the working day before or the working day after a public holiday without reasonable excuse or without the consent of the employer, the employee shall not be entitled to an additional day as provided in the previous paragraph.

29.7.3 In the absence of a regular roster pattern being established, an employee who has worked on a particular day for 50% of the time in the preceding six months is considered to be regularly rostered for the purposes of determining public holidays entitlements.

PART 8 - TRAINING AND RELATED MATTERS

30. TRAINING PROGRAM

30.1 The parties to this award recognise that in order to increase the efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of industry, a commitment to training and skill development is required.

30.2 Accordingly, the parties commit themselves to:

30.2.1 developing a more highly skilled and flexible workforce;

30.2.2 providing employees with career opportunities through appropriate training to acquire additional skills; and

30.2.3 removing barriers to the utilisation of skills acquired.

.

PART 9 - AWARD COMPLIANCE AND UNION RELATED MATTERS

31. TIME AND WAGES RECORDS

31.1 Every employer shall keep a record showing the name of each employee, the number of hours worked whether ordinary or overtime, the classification of work and the rate of pay therefore, and the wages or salary paid to each employee from week to week.

31.2 Time Sheets

31.3 Inspection

B. This order shall come into operation from the first pay period to commence on or after 8 February 2001 and shall remain in force for a period of one month.

BY THE COMMISSION:

COMMISSIONER

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