As the situation is changing rapidly, Master Builders is committed to providing its members with ongoing updates in relation to COVID-19.

The Federal Government issued a directive on 15 March 2020 that requires all people returning from travel overseas to Australia from midnight 16 March 2020 to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days.

You can access more information on the Health and Human Services website. It’s important to remind all employees to disclose travel and future travel plans.

The Victorian Premier has also announced that Victoria will be placed in a State of Emergency effective from noon today for 4 weeks. This will allow the Victorian Police to enforce self-isolation measures and to impose penalties on individuals or body corporates that do not comply with requirements to self-isolate.  This will affect employees who are returning from overseas travel and employees who have either direct contact or been diagnosed themselves.

This means that if any of your employees are returning from overseas today (16 March), the employees cannot come back into workplace for at least 14 days after returning to Australia.

Employers must not require its employees to come into work if they are required to self-quarantine under this directive.

If members have an employee who is required to self-quarantine, an agreement can be reached in relation to the self-quarantine period. Options can include taking additional annual leave days, drawing down accrued long-service leave, utilising banked RDO days, working from home if it’s feasible for your business or a period of unpaid leave by agreement of both parties.

Employers may request employees who intend to travel overseas to factor the quarantine period into their annual leave request.

Again, make sure your employees understand these requirements.

Members seeking additional information should contact the industrial relation team on (03) 9411 4555.