Victorian government announces vaccine leave for public sector
A large number of workers in one state will now have paid time off to get both doses.
Nurses, ambos, police and firefighters will be among the public sector employees given paid time off when getting a Covid-19 jab, the Victorian government announced on Sunday.
Health Minister Martin Foley on Sunday announced public sector employees could now access up to half a day’s paid time off to get each dose of the vaccine.
The initiative applies to full-time and part-time staff as well as long-term and regular casuals at departments and administrative offices, statutory authorities, government schools, TAFE institutes, police and emergency services, water and land management authorities and other public entities.
The paid time off will come in addition to accrued sick leave, which can be used if people experience adverse side effects.
“The program is subject to the usual operational requirements for taking time off, and does not displace any more generous arrangements already in place,” a Victoria Health statement reads.
Mr Foley said he wanted to ramp up the state’s vaccination drive with 2.1 million Victorians having received at least one dose of a vaccine, however only 15,366 got the jab during the past 24 hours.
“We’re continuing to ask all Victorians – if you’re eligible please get vaccinated – it’s our ticket out of this pandemic,” Mr Foley said.
Mr Foley said similar initiatives would also apply to the private sector.
“We have been working with a number of other larger private sector employers who have put in place similar arrangements,” he said.
“We think it's the responsibility of us, as a significant employer in the state to put in place, all the support we can to encourage our employees to get on and make sure that they are all vaccinated as soon as possible.”
The paid time off scheme comes as Victoria recorded 65 new cases of Covid-19 with only 12 of those in isolation while they were infectious.
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