Pay, leave and stand downs

Published 27 March 2020 | Updated 14 March 2022

Find information about pay and leave entitlements and stand downs during coronavirus.

On this page:

In this section:

Pay and leave during coronavirus

Read more about pay and leave during coronavirus including for:

Back to top

Stand downs during coronavirus

Employers may be able to stand employees down without pay during a sudden workplace closure that is outside the employer’s control. For example, they may be able to stand down employees when:

  • the business has closed because of an enforceable government direction (which means the employee can't be usefully employed, even from another location)
  • there's a stoppage of work due to lack of supply for which the employer can't be held responsible.

Employers should first discuss and communicate with employees about a stand down.

Find out more at Stand downs.

Back to top

Border closures: pay and leave options

During the coronavirus outbreak, some Australian state and territory borders may be temporarily closed to slow the spread of coronavirus.

While a border closure is in place, some residents of affected states or territories may not be able to attend work as usual.

If you’re an employer or employee affected by the border closure, the information on the following pages will help you understand your entitlements and obligations and help you make alternative arrangements.

Importantly, if you can’t attend work because of an enforceable government direction, including where this limits travel (or crossing state borders), you should contact your employer immediately to discuss your leave or flexible working options.

For all employers and employees:

For the latest coronavirus news, updates and advice from government agencies across Australia visit Australia.gov.au external-icon.png.

Back to top

Download PDF