Another Anzac Day falls on a Saturday and again our phones have been running hot. We have been putting the employers right about members’ entitlements, and have resolved matters in most cases.

We have now found out that the circular which was issued by the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association (VHIA) omitted to include the entitlement of full-time members to take a day and half as paid leave rather than a day and a half’s pay when rostered off on Anzac Day (including full time Monday to Friday staff).

Please contact the office if you think that your employer has got it wrong!

Some employers are taking the view that it is their decision whether to pay staff or allow them the day and a half (for full time staff) as time off. Curiously some employers are ‘discouraging’ staff from taking the time off while others are insisting that members take the time off instead of being paid.

If you are having trouble accessing your entitlement (to either payment or to time off) please contact the office.

The Victorian government has announced that a substitute public holiday will be declared in 2010 when Anzac Day falls on a Sunday. We look forward to that.