It is timely to remind members about their obligations in regards to employees who are volunteer emergency workers (for example, a volunteer fire fighter or SES worker).

The State Emergency and Rescue Management Act states that an employer must not victimise an employee for being absent, if their absence was due to the employee taking part in emergency operations as a member of an emergency organisation.

There is no legislative or award obligation on the employer to pay a volunteer emergency worker while they are absent from work. Any payment for time off should be negotiated between employer and employee.

If an employer requires proof that an employee attended a bona fide emergency, then they may request a certificate of attendance from their unit controller.