HSU members report that some Southern Cross Care sites are paying staff to attend the facility early to conduct RAT testing, or are allowing staff to test at the start of their shift while on the clock. The HSU commends members who have been able to achieve these arrangements through collectively asserting their rights with their local facility management.

However, the Union has received concerning reports that employees at some sites are being directed to attend facilities approximately 15 minutes before the start of their shift in order to conduct RAT testing but are not being paid for this time.

There are also reports of pay being docked where an employee has attended the facility in time for the start of their shift, but arrived on the floor 15 minutes later because they were conducting the test.

The HSU’s position on RAT testing is clear:

1. RAT testing has become an essential tool in the aged care industry to keep COVID-19 out of facilities and protect residents, workers, and visitors.
2. It is a good measure for aged care providers to require their staff to conduct RAT testing and return a negative result upon attending a facility.
3. Employees conducting RAT tests at the direction of their employer is ‘work’ or ‘time worked’ and they should be paid for this time.

It is important that Southern Cross Care members across the board are being appropriately compensated for the time it takes to conduct RAT tests, not just members at a select few sites.

As such, the HSU has written to management, requesting the following:

1. For all Southern Cross Care employees to be renumerated for the time it takes them to conduct the RAT test prior to their shift (approximately 15 minutes) moving forward.
2. For Southern Cross Care to back-pay employees for un-paid time worked whilst conducting RAT tests at the direction of Southern Cross Care.

The Union wants to ensure that our current records on testing payments are up to date and accurate. If you’re at a site where you’re not being paid for RAT testing, please email [E-Mail not displayed] and provide your name, the facility you work at, and brief description on how your facility conducts testing.

We need to be strong and united to make sure that everyone is properly paid at work. If your colleagues are not yet HSU members, they can join online at www.hsu.asn.au/join or by calling 1300 478 679.