COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme & Annual Leave

Throwaway89

Hi all,

The company I work for are availing of the 70% Wage Subsidy Scheme and topping it up by the 30%. I am still fulltime and working 40hrs a week from home. I have got no issues with any of that. Luckily work has been busy and I've enough to keep me going for now.

However, my problem is when it comes to leave, we have been told by the company, that leave will not be accruing leave during this time. The Wage Subsidy Scheme (currently) lasts up to 12wks, so that is give or take 25% of the year.

My leave is the statutory 20days.

Meaning that for 2020, I have got 15days leave, my question is - is this legal?

I am not interested in whether this is fair or not, or opinions on my leave entitlement, it is just a legal question and if it is legal under what grounds?

Thank you.

28064212

I can't see how that could be legal. Leave has no relation to wages, only time worked. If I were to accept a 20% paycut tomorrow for the same hours worked, I wouldn't lose 20% of my leave entitlement.

In fact, it's such a bizarre statement, I suspect it's a mistake or a mis-communication e.g. it's only applying to a section of people who are having their hours reduced. I'd go back to HR and ask for clarification

Jim Root

I can’t see any scenario where this would be correct, I’d echo the above comment and seek clarification.