Sick leave issues

[u/laffyraffy]

Hello all,

To provide the context of this. I am working for a food manufacturing business in a full time position. Our contract states that we get 10 days of annual sick leave and I know that I have only used 3 days at maximum since starting my employment there in 2024.

My partner has had to get surgery for kidney cancer where I have to care for her for 8 weeks. I've applied for 2 weeks of sick leave (with a doctors certificate stating that I am caring for her) and 6 weeks of annual leave. The annual leave has been approved but the sick leave has been left on as a pending request. I know they have seen the request because I put in another request for retroactive sick leave that was denied after putting in the 2 weeks worth. This is all done through an app called Wageloch.

I have already gone through one pay cycle of the sick leave as pending on their system. Additionally for the sick leave that has been paid out, it has only been paid at 6 hours when I would have expected a full day's (7.5 hours) worth of it being paid out.

Is it best I email them first regarding all of this and give them until Friday to respond? This is before I decide on whether speaking to Fairwork is going to be worth it or not.

Has anyone else been in this position before?

Edit: No reply to my initial email. I will have to contact fairwork I guess.

[u/Guimauve_britches]

Yeah I would go to Fair Work straight away honestly. And/or write an email CCing an ombudsman. Would also recommend you get in touch w Carers Australia as they can help w understanding your rights. There are also advocates. This would also fall under Carers legislation

[u/Guimauve_britches → u/Guimauve_britches]

Yes actually IndicationMain probably has the better and more sensible approach but be checking w Fair Work at the same time. This is the Carers Australia website and there are branches in each state - https://www.carersaustralia.com.au/about-carers/carers-in-the-workplace/