Dear Members,
It was announced that Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong will be required to go into Covid lockdown, which means aesthetic and beauty businesses will be subject to the closure.
You can call 1800 MYABIC (1800 692 242) to speak with one of our facilitators regarding how this could impact you and your business.
However, we have some important information and details here for you.
Official restrictions are updated here
Essential downloadable documents attached to this article are:
For when clinics and salons reopen:
The general restrictions are:
Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong will be subject to Lockdown (“Stay at Home Order”) from 6pm 26 June until 11.59pm Friday, 9 July.
Everyone in these areas must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, as follows:
Beauty Services are included in this lockdown.
FAQ’s:
As an aesthetic and beauty business how will this affect me and my employees?
When a business is required to close due to a government direction (e.g. a lockdown), the business will likely be able to utilise the stand-down provisions under the Fair Work Act (FWA).
You and your employees will not be permitted to come to work or attend the premises to undertake any duties, unless your business is considered an essential service, authorised for work, or is an approved education facility. Beauty and aesthetic businesses do not fall under these categories, therefore they are subject to the full restrictions and conditions of the lock down.
Do I need to stand down my staff without pay?
When a permanent employee is stood-down under the FWA, this period is unpaid.
However, unlike a period of unpaid leave, permanent employees will continue to accrue their entitlements based on their contracted hours.
Employees may elect to use their annual leave or long service leave during this period. However, they are unable to access their personal/carer's leave or compassionate leave during a stand-down.
More information relating to the stand-down provisions can be found here
If you wish to pay your staff throughout the lockdown, or come to an alternative arrangement then that remains an internal business decision for you to discuss with your staff. Should you need advice on any proposed alteration to the employees pay you will need to obtain advice from our HR specialists.
Before issuing any relevant correspondence, we would recommend consulting with the employees regarding the stand-down.
You can advise the employees that as a result of the government's restrictions, the business will be required to close. During this time, the permanent employees will be stood-down without pay, however, they can request to use their Annual Leave or Long Service Leave during this time.
You can also outline that you will be in touch with any updates on the lockdown where possible and when they will be required to return back to work.
Am I required to give my employees official correspondence regarding their stand down?
Yes, you should first consult with your staff in person to advise them of the upcoming conditions of restrictions and lockdown.
You can then advise them regarding their entitlements under the stand-down provision, Link here
You will then need to provide each employee with individual letters.
If you are an ABIC clinic member, then we can provide these letters to you upon consultation with our HR team, along with detailed advice regarding your personal business situation, and consultation on alternate scenarios for your business throughout the stand-down period.
Can I visit my clinic myself to perform admin duties if I work alone?
No, the restrictions are in place and you can only leave your home for the aforementioned reasons..
Will I have any financial assistance throughout this lockdown period from the government or the ATO?
Announcements have not yet been made regarding possible financial provisions, however we will publish them if any are released, so stay connected through our social channels, and on our website www.theabic.org.au
Our facilitators, and HR specialists are available from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday to give you advice, and consultation on your specific requirements, and we are able to provide you with all of the correspondence, information, and legislation surrounding Covid and the lockdown restrictions.
You can also email us on [email protected]
Stay safe and vigilant NSW, we are with you.