Going to work and COVID-19

Published 27 May 2020 | Updated 4 October 2023

Issues might arise when navigating COVID-19 and going to work.

On this page:

Directing employees to stay away from work under workplace health and safety laws

Under workplace health and safety (WHS) laws, employers have to do what they can to ensure the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. Employees also have responsibilities under those laws.

More information:

Employees who want to stay home as a precaution

Some employees may want to stay at home as a precaution. We encourage employees to discuss their level of risk of contracting COVID-19 with their:

  • doctor
  • WHS representative
  • WHS body.

Employees who haven’t been directed to stay home by either their employer or because of an enforceable government direction will need come to an arrangement with their employer.

This could include:

  • requesting to work from home (if this is a safe and practical option), or
  • taking some form of leave, such as annual leave or long service leave.

Normal leave application processes still apply.

If an employee doesn't come to an arrangement to work from home with their employer, or doesn’t use paid leave, then they aren’t entitled to be paid for choosing not to work.

Employees who stop work because it’s unsafe aren’t taking industrial action. Employees need to comply with directions from their employer to perform other appropriate and safe work, if that direction is reasonable. For more information about employees’ rights to stop work see Safe Work Australia.

Employers may be able to take disciplinary action against an employee who refuses a legal and reasonable request. Resources for employers include:

Example: Employee chooses to self-isolate due to health concerns

Jeff wants to self-isolate as a precaution because he has a weakened immune system. He contacts his employer to discuss his concerns and asks to work from home for the next few weeks.

Jeff's employer is already aware of his condition. They check their working from home policy and conduct a risk assessment to make sure Jeff’s home office will be safe for him to use. They then let Jeff know that they’re happy to let him work from home for the next 2 weeks.

Jeff and his employer agree that after 2 weeks, they'll review the arrangement to make sure it's working and to discuss whether it’s still necessary.

Employers who want their employees to stay home as a precaution

Under workplace health and safety laws, employers have to do what they can to ensure the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. Employees also have responsibilities under those laws.

If an employer tells a full-time or part-time employee not to work as a precaution the employee has to be paid.

Different rules about payment apply to employees who can’t work because of an enforceable government direction.

Tools and resources

Related information