The emergency created by the conflict in Lebanon requires special consideration and Chief Executive Officers are encouraged to apply flexibly the following leave provisions as and when required in respect of directly affected staff.

The following arrangements apply to officers, temporary staff and Senior and Chief Executive Services staff employed under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 and ministerial employees in Schedule 1 Part 1 organisations under the Act. The Chief Executive Officers of other public sector organisations are encouraged to extend similar concessions to all affected employees in their organisation.

Department Heads may:

1. Consider granting special leave to a staff member trapped' in the region who does not have sufficient leave (eg recreation or extended) credit to cover the extended period of absence;
2. Grant Family and Community Service (FACS) leave where the staff member has a family emergency as a result of the crisis and where FACS leave is not sufficient, additional special leave may be granted;
3. Extend the relevant flexible working hours settlement period for a further 4 weeks (Clause 21 (i) Flexible Working Hours, Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Award 2002).

Provisions (1) and (2) above only apply to staff who were in the region, or had family in the region, before Friday 14 July 2006, which is the week that the crisis escalated. Provision (3) is to apply to the settlement period which covers 14 July 2006.

To be entitled to the special leave staff will need to verify their travel arrangements, for example production of an airline ticket, boarding pass, passport stamp(s) and/or other travel documentation as appropriate.

C Gellatly
Director-General

Issued : Employee Relations And Workforce Planning Services (Public Employment Office)
Contact: Julie Gordon, Employee Relations Officer
EMail: [email protected]
Telephone no: 9228 3179 Facsimile: 9228 4056
File no: PSM/05388
Date: 2.08.06
This circular has not superseded any other Memorandum/Circular