Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws
We’re here to help you understand your rights and responsibilities at work during the impact of coronavirus.
We encourage employees and employers to work together to find solutions that suit their individual workplaces and circumstances.
The information on this website covers workplace laws, obligations and entitlements for:
- employers and employees affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)
- employers and employees participating in the JobKeeper scheme (qualifying employers and eligible employees)
- employers and employees who previously participated in the JobKeeper scheme (legacy employers and eligible employees).
Check our News and updates section to see what's been updated recently.
Returning to work & the workplace
In this section, you’ll find:
Pay & leave during coronavirus
In this section, you’ll find:
JobKeeper scheme
In this section, you’ll find:
Temporary changes to workplace laws
In this section, you’ll find:
Health & safety in the workplace
In this section, you’ll find:
Alternative working arrangements
In this section, you’ll find:
Stand downs
In this section, you’ll find:
Ending employment & redundancy
In this section, you’ll find:
In this section, you’ll find:
Other government information & assistance
In this section, you’ll find:
Help in your language during coronavirus
In this section, you’ll find:
In this section, you’ll find:
News and updates
19 February 2021
COVID-19 vaccinations and the workplace
We have updated our COVID-19 vaccinations and the workplace page to include answers to common questions about different workplace issues and COVID-19 vaccinations. You’ll find answers to various questions including:
- Can an employer require an employee to be vaccinated?
- What happens if an employee refuses to be vaccinated?
- Can an employer take disciplinary action if an employee refuses to get vaccinated?
The Department of Health has comprehensive information on COVID-19 vaccines and the rollout plans for the Australian community. See Department of Health – COVID-19 vaccines 
.
Visit Safe Work Australia’s website for information on specific coronavirus work health and safety issues, including industry specific guidance.
We will continue to update our information and guidance, and you are encouraged to check back regularly for updates.
Previous news and updates
To view a list of previous updates to our website, go to our Previous news and updates page.
About our information
We'll continue to update the information on our website as the situation develops and as needed. The information provided is current as at the time of the last update. It is not legal advice but represents the views of the Fair Work Ombudsman based on the best available information. We encourage you to regularly check this page for more information.