In light of the severe and life-threatening flooding across parts of NSW this week, the PSA reminds members that their union has award clauses to support all workers unable to attend work in natural emergences such as floods.

Don’t forget that, just like with the train shut down last week, under the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009 an employee prevented from attending work at a normal location by a natural emergency can access Family and Community Services (FACS) Leave for the time.

If your workplace remains operational but you are unable to travel to work, the PSA recommends you explore options such as working from home or working from an alternate location. If you are unable to do this you can take available Family and Community Service Leave (FACS) and/or Flex Leave, Recreation Leave, Extended Leave or Leave Without Pay to cover the period concerned.

If you are unable to vary your working hours, or are in a role in which you cannot work from home, you should seek to use your available FACS leave balance, or Flex Leave if available, in the first instance. FACS Leave accumulates at 2.5 days per year for each of the first two years of employment, and 1 day per year thereafter.

These conditions are contained within Clause 71 of your Union negotiated Award. If you are being pressured to submit any other form of leave when you have an available FACS leave balance, please contact the PSA for assistance on 1300 772 679.

The PSA has also established a permanent Emergency Relief Fund. You can read more about it HERE.

Thank you to all the PSA members who are assisting our communities during yet another natural disaster, whether that be through the role in which you are employed, volunteering with the SES or RFS or working in evacuation centres.