Action led by the Health Services Union has led the Fair Work Commission to agree on a number of changes to working practices which will improve the working conditions for home care and disability workers.
The Fair Work Commission agreed with the HSU and other unions on a raft of proposed changes to the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS Award).
“This is a really significant decision as the nature of the work in aged care and disability is constantly changing. We need to make sure the Award keeps up with what is happening in the sector,” said Lloyd Williams, National Secretary of the HSU.
Some of these key changes include:
- Minimum engagements of two hours for part-time and casual home care and disability workers (this means that you have to be paid for a minimum of two hours for a single shift).
- Limits on the use of “broken shifts” so that there can only be a maximum of two unpaid breaks in a shift. You have to agree to work a broken shift and you will receive an additional allowance if you work a broken shift.
- Better protections for part-time workers who work additional hours. These include that any additional hours are voluntary and establishing a process for workers to increase the number of their minimum contracted hours if they consistently work extra hours.
- Making it easier for workers to swap shifts.
The Fair Work Commission agreed that travel time between clients should be compensated, however, it has not yet decided on how this should be implemented.
The changes won’t happen immediately. The Fair Work Commission has asked the HSU along with other unions and employer groups to make comment on its decision before it is finalised. This process should finish by 30 June 2021.
