Access eased for paid pandemic leave for health workers

Queensland Health and Queensland Ambulance Service staff who contract COVID-19 will be able to access up to 20 days of paid pandemic leave immediately after being diagnosed, without having to exhaust their sick leave.

The policy will be applied retrospectively, meaning employees who have contracted COVID-19 since 13 December 2021 will be able to use pandemic leave and have their sick leave credited back to them.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath said the special leave arrangements were amended to ensure health and ambulance workers were not unduly impacted if they were infected.

“Our hospital and health staff have a higher risk than most people of being exposed to the virus, so it’s important they are supported with appropriate policies,” she said.

“Under current arrangements, staff must use their sick leave before accessing pandemic leave.

“We are changing that so they can access their pandemic leave as soon as they test positive to COVID-19.

“These arrangements will also apply to health and ambulance staff who take leave to care for family or other household members as a result of COVID-19, in recognition of the sacrifices they have made.

“Queensland Health and QAS have led our pandemic response over the past two and a half years and the staff of both organisations have done an amazing job of protecting Queenslanders.

Staff can apply for pandemic leave via MyHR, their internal payroll system, and must certify that they have been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive.

Media contact: Cullen Robinson 0418 170 474