Unpaid carer's leave
Unpaid pandemic leave and annual leave flexibility in awards
On 8 April 2020, the Fair Work Commission made determinations varying 99 awards to provide unpaid pandemic leave and greater flexibility for annual leave for employees in many awards. Read more at Unpaid pandemic leave and annual leave changes to awards.
Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws
If your workplace has been impacted by coronavirus, we have information about your workplace rights and obligations.
Find out more on Coronavirus and Australian workplace laws.
All employees, including casual employees are entitled to 2 days unpaid carer’s leave.
Employees get 2 days unpaid carer’s leave each time an immediate family member or household member of the employee needs care and support because of:
- illness
- injury or
- an unexpected emergency.
Full-time and part-time employees can only get unpaid carer’s leave if they don’t have any paid sick / carer’s leave left.
Find out who is an immediate family or household member on the Sick and carer’s leave page.
Taking unpaid carer’s leave
Unpaid carer’s leave can be taken:
- in 1 continuous period (eg. 2 working days in a row) or
- in separate periods as agreed between the employee and employer (eg. 4 half days could be taken in a row).
An employer can’t take negative action against an employee for taking unpaid carer’s leave. To find out more, see Protections at work.
Source reference: Fair Work Act 2009 s.102 
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