What are my workplace rights during an emergency or natural disaster?

With parts of Australia battling widespread flooding, some employees may be unable to attend work, or their workplaces may need to close due to safety concerns. If you have been affected, it might be helpful to know what workplace entitlements or arrangements you can access in an emergency or natural disaster.

Leave entitlements

Employees can request access to several paid and unpaid leave entitlements if affected by a natural disaster or to assist with emergency management. These include:

Annual leave - For full and part-time employees, paid annual leave can be taken at any time agreed on by both employer and employee. Your employer can only refuse your leave request if the refusal is reasonable.