Senior prison staff have had their Christmas leave cancelled amid Covid concerns

Jail authorities have had to cancel the Christmas leave of senior staff - including governors - to keep prisons running amid Covid-19 concerns.

Christmas holidays are being cancelled for senior prison employees as a critical staff shortage from the rapidly-spreading Omicron-variant forces management to recall workers.

The extraordinary step to revoke leave will impact senior managers, security staff and governors, and are designed to keep the jails operating.

It is understood a special unit is also being created to manage staff numbers to ensure prisons can keep operating without major disruption.

The vacancies have arisen as a result of staff being declared a close contact and having to undergo a test and isolate, or being ill themselves.

Senior prison staff are having the holidays cancelled over Christmas because of Covid. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Taylor

A prison source said while the leave cancellation order only applied to senior staff, prison officers were concerned it could impact frontline workers as more employees were unable to work.

“Part of the problem is that prison officers are treated like aged care workers and so if they are deemed a close contact, they have to isolate for two weeks,” the source said.

“So far only the leave of senior management has been revoked, but there are concerns this will extend to front-line workers.

“Why did we ease restrictions so close to Christmas? Everyone is now worried about becoming sick or having to isolate.”

Over in the State’s hospitals, some nurses are also being recalled to fill in staff shortages.