To view or download this policy as a PDF click Employee and Employment Related Policies Documents

Purpose

• To inform all Central Desert Regional Council’s employees about the consequences of being absent from work without any reasonable excuse and approval by management.
• To guide managers in handling unapproved absences from work without any reasonable excuse in a fair and just way.

Scope

This policy applies to all employees and managers of the Central Desert Regional Council.

Legislation and Reference

Local Government Act 2019
Fair Work Act 2009
The Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
Central Desert Regional Council’s Enterprise Agreement
Code of Conduct – Employee Policy

Policy Statement

1. A leave form that clearly states the reason for leave must be completed for all absences from work, even part day absences. It must be approved by the employee’s supervisor (for example the Works Supervisor for Field Officer positions).
2. An employee who cannot come to work must tell their immediate supervisor of the reason for their absence as soon as practical on the day of their absence. If the immediate supervisor is not contactable the employee must inform another relevant manager (for example the Program Manager, Director etc).
3. Employees who do not come to work for 7 working days in a row, without approval from the relevant immediate supervisor and a reasonable excuse, will be deemed to have abandoned their job and will be dismissed by the Chief Executive Officer.
4. The supervisor or other manager must take reasonable steps to contact the employee within the 7 day unapproved absence from work period by: phoning, writing to or emailing the employee or, visiting the employee’s home or last known address or, speaking to immediate relatives about the whereabouts of the employee. The employee must also make a reasonable effort to contact the employer and provide the required statutory documentary evidence for being away from work.
5. If the employee returns to work within the 7 working day period they will have to apply for relevant leave (for example annual leave or leave without pay). A written note of their unapproved absence from work will be kept on their employment file.
6. Where a pattern of unapproved absence presents itself for an employee over three consecutive pay periods, Council will explore alternative arrangements with the employee such as converting to part-time or casual.

Review History