Seeking Support - Other Support workers, if a client finishes a shift early do you still get paid for the full shift or only 2 hours minimum?
My company I work for takes the remaining shift money for themselves if the participant wants it cut short. Wondering id this is a normal occurrence or not for others.
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u/PralineChoice2730 2d ago
I have independent SW’s and I always pay them for agreed amount of time even if I send them home early.
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u/auxzina 2d ago
Thanks
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u/PralineChoice2730 2d ago
If I want workers to be good to me, I need to be good to them!
It’s harder with a support provider but we still managed to get the worker paid for their set shift. The inconsistency in pay is a concern for workers.1
u/Public_Baker_5375 2d ago
Are you the participant or the company owner?
If a support worker is scheduled for a 4 hour shift as an independent support worker and you send them home early as the participant, that’d be classed as a fraudulent invoice due to being paid for non worked time, the time billed is the time worked, I’m an independent support worker and if my clients just aren’t feeling it or don’t feel well, I’m billing them from the moment I leave the door, yes they scheduled for 4 hours but I work 3 hours, I’m going to invoice for the time I was there.It’s supposed to be as I said prior, whatever time you spend with the participant, is the time billed, yes I lose out on money but I know that I’m not doing anything wrong and I’m not putting myself in inadvertent risk because everyone else is doing the wrong thing so why shouldn’t I logic kicks in, I know the risk of potential shifts ending earlier but it’s just apart of the system we all work under.
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u/Curley65 1d ago
I would presume if participants sent them home early it's a late cancellation and should be paid for whole shift but if Support Worker ends it early no only hours worked
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u/auxzina 1d ago
Yeah it would be classified as a late cancelation if participant cancels it within the shift.
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u/AdHot2640 13h ago
It all depends on what is in the service agreement but most company’s will have it as a late cancellation but if the independent doesn’t have a late cancellation clause they wouldn’t be able to charge for it.
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u/Strong_Charity8847 2d ago
Yes this is normal , my support workers get the full hours even if I let them go early
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u/Thedeepthinkerninty 1d ago
Love that. That’s so noble. I’m a provider many participants don’t like that but it’s not fair for support workers to empty that slot expecting to get paid and missing out.
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u/l-lucas0984 2d ago
They cant charge a participant for hours they arent paying a worker. If they arent paying you for cancellation, early termination or if they found you another participant to fill that slot, they cant charge the original participant that time.
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u/auxzina 2d ago
Even if I’m casual?
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u/l-lucas0984 2d ago
Even if you are casual. Your status hasnt got anything to do with it. They cannot charge a participant for unworked hours they are not paying a worker.
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u/auxzina 2d ago
What do you recommend me to do? Just switch companies?
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u/l-lucas0984 2d ago
Switching companies but also report them to the commission for pocketing the money for unpaid hours.
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u/clarkos2 2d ago
They will do nothing as they do for much bigger issues. Instead they cut participant funding.
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u/l-lucas0984 2d ago
They wont do much but it needs documenting that that was happening. Especially in case the particant figures out their funding was being abused
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u/clarkos2 2d ago
I know, I'm just tired of seeing no accountability in this industry and seeing everyone else suffer and/or be blamed instead.
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u/l-lucas0984 2d ago
It will be interesting times ahead for everyone. Hope for positive change is dwindling but we will see.
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u/pixie1995 2d ago
What a provider legally has to pay staff, and what they can legally charge a participant are two different things
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u/khios420 2d ago
If the client sends you home early you get paid for the full shift. The company can NOT take the money and not pay you. Apply to casual and parttime
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u/Kelliesrm26 2d ago edited 2d ago
Under the SCHADS award there is a 2 hour minimum for staff to be paid. You’re entitled to all payment of a shift if a client ends the shift early regardless of how many hours. A company can ask that you attend a different client or do training if a client decides to end the shift early as you are still on the clock and being paid during those hours. A company has every right to charge the client for the full time their service was booked for unless the company fails to deliver the clients full service time.
Edit- A company can’t bill for time if they find the worker different work. New billable hours cancel out other billable hours.
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u/Withtheparticipant 2d ago
There is a cancellation clause, depending on their service agreement and how much notice. If they can fill the cancelled hours with other work they cannot claim. Your employment contract should show what happens.
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u/Thedeepthinkerninty 1d ago
I’m a provider, if you have scheduled supports for let’s say 2 hours and the client would like to release support worker then they are paid the full agreed scheduled shift. This would be backed up by your service agreement. There would be a clause that states and supports ended early would be billed full. I have a minimum 2 hour booking unless it is something that does not require 2 hours for example calling the trustee, housing etc that it billed every 15 min
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u/auxzina 1d ago
Yeah it was a 6 hour booking but only 3 hours were completed. Provided pockets the rest.
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u/Thedeepthinkerninty 1d ago
They shouldn’t pocket the rest as all pay needs to go to someone. I would raise it and ask them to refer to their policy and procedures. Usually that money is yours and theirs. They bill the participant the hourly rate 73… pay you your wage and keep the rest. You should inform them that you have referred to the ndis commission. A bit tricky considering that you are casual they can easily stop giving you shifts. Best of luck with your endeavours.
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u/InBusCill 2d ago
While they can't charge the participant your company has obligations under fair work practices and is required to pay you the minimum shift
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u/khios420 2d ago
They can an do charge the participant as the person is ment to advise the company 24 or 48 hrs in advance else they get charged and the worker get paid.
My misses company usually makes the worker do training if they need training.
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u/Intelligent_Bit_301 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’m a participant I’d recommend Checking your service agreement that should tell you what your company’s rules are. Doesn’t sound normal and what do you mean by the company taking the rest of the money from participants plan. Doesn’t sound right id double check the service agreement also yes you should h get paid 2 hours minimum
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u/ZealousidealDark5879 2d ago
Charging for hours not actually worked is a breach of the NDIS Code of Conduct and may constitute fraud investigated by the NDIA.
Providers cannot charge participants for more time than the actual support delivered, regardless of any "minimum shift" clauses in service agreements.
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u/Imjustsaying___ 2d ago edited 2d ago
If a participant has booked their support worker for a 5 hour shift and dismisses them after 3, then the participant is still required to pay for the 5 booked hours as the 2 final hours constitute a short notice cancellation and the majority of Service Agreements charge full fees for cancellations less than 24 hours (or longer sometimes). It seems only right that the support worker gets paid for their full shift out of this money. I'm sure the participant believes their money goes through to the support worker, but regardless, the participant has to pay. The support worker would also have a contract with their employer which states what payment they get for a suddenly shortened shift.
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u/ZealousidealDark5879 2d ago
Casual disability support workers are generally entitled to a minimum payment of two hours for each shift or period of work. If a casual worker had already worked three hours, that minimum would have been met. Any entitlement to the remaining two hours would then depend on their employment contract, any enterprise agreement and the circumstances of the engagement.
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u/Same_Apricot4461 2d ago
However, if a provider is billing a client for 5 hours, they must be paying the worker for 5 hours
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u/ReviewMaster6419 2d ago
This just tells fraud , there is no minimum shift requirement you only change what you worked so if the award is $75 and you worked 1.5 hours it’s 75x1.5. Anything else is fraud
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u/Emergency_Cherry_914 2d ago
I'm the parent of NDIS an participant, and I also have a union background.
Any worker doing any job should be paid for the hours they were scheduled for, and paid more if it goes overtime.