If your business is closing down over the Christmas – New Year period remember that you need to give employees prior notice, in writing, of this close down. Employees will be paid from their annual leave accrual (or RDOs by agreement) for this close down period.

Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020

Under the Electrical modern award employers can declare a Christmas – New Year close down period by giving employees two months’ notice in writing.

Close down means a period of not less than two consecutive weeks and not more than four consecutive weeks, inclusive of public holidays.

You may like to consider your arrangements for ‘standby’ or ‘on-call’ rosters now in order to put the appropriate systems in place.

Clerks – Private Sector Award 2020

Under the Clerks modern award employers may require employees to take annual leave during a close down period by giving at least four week’s notice in writing.

Public Holidays falling during close down period

During the close down period, permanent employees are entitled to be paid for public holidays during the close down period (if they would normally have had ordinary hours rostered on those days).

If an employee is provided the notice and does not have sufficient leave to cover the period of the close down they can be approved leave without pay or the employer can elect to pay annual leave in advance. This would also apply to new employees commencing after the notice is given.

Master Electricians have unlimited access to the Employer Advice hotline. If you need assistance or advice around close downs or award terms phone direct on 1300 889 198.