THE phones are running hot in the region's accountancy and business advisory firms as employers seek guidance on how best to survive the coronavirus pandemic.
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And yesterday's announcement of efforts to introduce two weeks of unpaid pandemic leave and extend the availability of annual leave, at half the pay, would just provide businesses with greater flexibility and options.
That's according to leaders at Be.Bendigo, AFS Chartered Accountants and Strategem.
After a $130-billion wage subsidy announcement on Monday came news of proposed changes to more than 100 modern awards to provide employers and recipients with greater flexibility in their roles and leave annual entitlements during the pandemic.
Be.Bendigo chief executive Dennis Bice said some businesses had already been speaking with staff about the sort of arrangements the government yesterday flagged.
Having formalised pathways to do things like double the amount of annual leave at half the pay during the pandemic would be of significant help.
"I see this as another positive in terms of keeping the employer/employee relationship going," Mr Bice said.
He said businesses affected by the pandemic conditions would be sitting down at the moment, trying to find out how long they could keep operating.
The ability to perform more flexible roles or access more paid and unpaid leave could be the difference between employees having a job, or not.
AFS Chartered Accountants chief executive Kate Mannix said the new and proposed arrangements allowed some flexibility for both the employer and employee to negotiate what was going to work for them.
"It keeps people in employment and gives the employer some flexibility," Mrs Mannix said.
Temporary changes had already been announced in each of the hospitality, restaurant and clerks awards.
The pandemic leave and changes to annual leave are proposed for 103 of Australia's 121 modern award categories.
Mrs Mannix encouraged eligible businesses to register for the Job Keeper package.
Strategem head of human resources and projects, Katrina Ray urged employers to turn to reputable sources and experts for advice, faced with what could be an overwhelming amount of information.
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Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
