Under the new Short-Term Absence Payment​, Employers with staff who can’t work from home, but have been told to self-isolate pending a Covid-19 test result, will qualify for a $350​ government payment. Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff said the policy would play an important part in supporting people to take time off work while awaiting test results. Stuff Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni hoped the Short-Term Absence Payment would relieve the financial pressure on businesses which had staff who were self-isolating until they recieved their Covid-19 test results, but could not work from home. The Short-Term Absence Payment scheme was not designed to cover workers who had no symptoms, and who were tested in a routine testing programme. “If an employee’s usual wages are less than or equal to the Short-Term Absence Payment, the business must pay the worker their usual wages.

Source: Stuff February 07, 2021 22:01 UTC