WORKERS’ COMPENSATION – ACCIDENT LEAVE 88

4.17.1 GENERAL 88

4.17.2 ELIGIBILITY 88

4.17.3 ENTITLEMENT 88

4.17.3.1 Leave and Pay Entitlements – First 26 Weeks of Absence 89 4.17.3.2 Leave and Pay Entitlements – After 26 Weeks of Absence 89

4.17.3.3 Partial Incapacity 89

4.17.3.4 Other Entitlements 89

4.17.4 APPLICATION PROCEDURES 89

CONTENTS Leave

Handbook for non-teaching staff in schools March 2007

4.17.5 LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS 90

4.17.6 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 90

4.17.7 INCREMENTAL PROGRESSION 90

4.17.8 PERMANENT INCAPACITY 90

4.17.9 REFUSAL OF CLAIM 90

4.17.10 REHABILITATION 90 4.17.11 PERMANENTLY MODIFIED DUTIES 90

4.17.12 REFERENCES AND ADVICE 90

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4.1 INTRODUCTION

4.1.1 APPLICATION

Unless otherwise specified, the leave provisions described in this chapter relate to all non-teaching staff in schools, both school administrative and support staff and staff employed under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 (eg general assistants and farm assistants).

Many of the leave provisions for non-teaching staff in schools originate in the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Award 2002 and details are provided in the Public Service Personnel Handbook. Other entitlements are drawn from relevant awards or agreements.

4.1.2 GENERAL

A staff member must not be absent from duty without good reason. A staff member should apply for the appropriate leave in advance, and ensure that it is approved before the leave is taken.

A staff member absent because of illness or other emergency must, as soon as practicable, notify their principal or supervisor of their absence and the reason, or arrange for their principal or supervisor to be notified of their absence and its reason.

Staff members who do not provide a satisfactory explanation for their absence will be regarded as absent without authorised leave. Should no satisfactory explanation be forthcoming the staff member’s pay will be debited for the period of absence.

Staff members applying for longer periods of leave should consider aligning commencing and finishing dates of leave with school term dates wherever possible to minimise disruption to school programs.

For details of the effects of various types of leave on superannuation please see Chapter 9, Superannuation.

Leave conditions apply to part time staff on a pro rata basis, calculated according to the number of hours worked per week.

Permanent part time staff working long term additional hours will need to apply to Employee Services Bathurst to have additional hours recognised. The additional leave entitlements for permanent part time staff who complete long term additional hours will be reviewed on a six monthly basis (end of term one and end of term three).

For details of the hours averaging provisions for school administrative and support staff see Chapter 1, Section 1.2.1.5.

4.1.3 ELECTRONIC LEAVE APPLICATION AND PROCESSING SERVICE (e-LAPS)

e-LAPS is a fast, convenient and secure facility through which staff members can lodge leave applications online and review service history, leave transactions and leave balances. Access to e-LAPS is currently available for permanent SAS staff and will progressively become available for other staff members.

4.1.3.1 Logging On and Applying for Leave

Open the web browser and proceed as follows:

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1. Go to www.schools.nsw.edu.au (Internet) or detwww.det.nsw.edu.au (Intranet)

2. Click on Employment with Us

3. Click on Leave, then click on Online Leave Service

4. Enter the confidential username and password in the Log On window 5. Click on My Leave

6. Place the mouse pointer over Apply for Leave, move to the leave type being applied for and click on it

7. Follow the screen prompts and message boxes to complete the leave application

8. Review the application details (click on Restart if changes are needed) and click on Confirm to send the completed online leave application for approval.

4.1.3.2 Verifying Leave Entitlements

e-LAPS automatically verifies that a leave entitlement is held or not held at the time a staff member applies for leave. This ensures that principals and other leave approvers in the school only receive leave applications where you have sufficient leave entitlement. If the staff member does not have sufficient leave of the type required, they will be prompted by e-LAPS to consider another type of leave.

4.1.3.3 Supporting Documentation

Documentation is required to support some leave requests (eg medical certificates for absences on sick leave that exceed three days and jury service attendance statements for special leave).

The leave transaction identification number generated on screen when a staff member applies for leave must be recorded on supporting documentation and given to the principal or leave approver (leave approvers may also include deputy principals and/or assistant principals if nominated by the principal).

4.1.3.4 Medical Certificate Confidentiality

In cases where a medical certificate is required or supplied, the staff member may choose to keep the nature of their illness or injury confidential by providing the medical certificate to the principal or leave approver in a sealed envelope marked

"Confidential - HealthQuest only".

In these circumstances, principals will forward such documentation unopened, with the leave application identification number noted, to Employee Services Bathurst. The unopened envelope is then sent by employee service centre staff to HealthQuest.

4.1.3.5 SAS Staff Who Work Permanently at More than One School

If a staff member works permanently at more than one school, the principal at the base school is responsible for approving the leave, in consultation with principal(s) at the other school(s).

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4.1.3.6 Leave Approved

If a leave request is approved, the leave details pass automatically to the computerised Leave Management System and to the payroll. The leave transaction identification number is maintained in e-LAPS for future reference should the staff member wish to alter or review the leave terms.

4.1.3.7 Leave Not Endorsed and Appeals

If leave is not endorsed, the staff member will receive advice of the decision and the reason electronically in e-LAPS. If a staff member wishes to appeal, they should do so within seven days by post, fax or e-mail to Employee Services Bathurst (see Chapter 10 for details). The appeal should be marked to the attention of the Manager, Employee Services Bathurst.

Leave appeals should include all relevant details, including the leave transaction identification number and any supporting documentation. Leave appeals are considered on the basis of: eligibility and entitlement; documentation received to support the leave request; school and staff member needs; and discussion with the principal, appellant and/or school education director as appropriate.

4.1.3.8 Online Assistance for e-LAPS Users

e-LAPS offers online help and answers to frequently asked questions for

permanent SAS staff. Click the ‘Help on this Page’ option in the blue menu bar on the left hand side of the screen or the ‘Help’ option in the blue menu bar at the top right of the screen. e-LAPS also provides a link for e-mail assistance.

4.1.3.9 Passwords and Technical Assistance for e-LAPS Users

Permanent SAS staff enquiring about user names, passwords, network connections and technical issues should call the IT Services team toll-free on 1800 338 483.

4.1.3.10 Other Assistance for e-LAPS Users

Permanent SAS staff enquiring about e-LAPS, leave entitlements and service details should contact Employee Services Bathurst on 1300 338 003.

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4.2 ADOPTION, MATERNITY AND PARENTAL LEAVE