Compensation for Planned Electrical Outage at Workplace

mafmouf on 06/03/2014 - 12:42
Last edited 06/03/2014 - 14:07

Hi all,

Last week there was a planned electrical outage at work and we were notified about a couple weeks in advance. As a mere employee, I was listening to the conversation between my employer and 2 workers who had come out to inform us of the outage. My employer raged a little as there would be no electricity for the factory workers to operate machinery, nor would anyone in the office available for computer work. I.e. a lost day of productivity.

Anyways, my employer asked who would be paying for a lost day of production and the informer said he was just delivering a message. I don't think this matter was ever chased up. Consequently, I was forced to take that day off (I enjoyed my holiday :)) as annual leave.

I mentioned this to a friend who said that I shouldn't be forced to take annual leave for this particular type of event. He also said that the utility company should be forking out for the lost day of production. I mentioned the latter to my employer and indicate he can't do much.

Is anyone here familiar with an event such as this. I am only concerned as I will need this annual leave (yes, 8 hours will make a big difference for me). If I had 100's of hours, I'd probably not care too much.

TLDR: For a planned outage, does an employee need to take annual leave?

Thank you for the help in advance :)

General Discussion

Comments

  • retiredfeline on 06/03/2014 - 12:44
    +2

    You'd have to read your contract of employment to find out whether your employer can require you to take leave, for whatever reason.

    • mafmouf on 06/03/2014 - 14:09

      Ah, thank you for letting me know. I will need to dig this up and check :)

  • PissLUR on 06/03/2014 - 13:25
    +1

    employee, not employer.

    • bittervalue on 06/03/2014 - 13:32

      Good post. Much needed edit.

      • mafmouf on 06/03/2014 - 14:08
        +1

        Wow, it was quite bad. Much edited. Thank you.

  • ilostnemo on 06/03/2014 - 13:50

    Your employee should pay you, and whether or not they can claim isn't your concern.

    What would happen if you were sick on that day? Is it your fault they don't have generators?

    If they don't recredit you I'd be taking 3 sicks days off in lieu.

    • robbyjones on 06/03/2014 - 21:20
      +3

      This sort of entitled attitude is myopic and selfish. Boooo

      • donbot on 07/03/2014 - 14:09
        +1

        Agreed… yet people wonder why manufacturing in this country is so expensive and noncompetitive with the rest of the world with attitudes like this.

        • ilostnemo on 07/03/2014 - 15:22

          Are you guys employers?

          Employees do have rights, and don't need to be exploited,

          tizey, Australians won't work for $3 an hour, that is why we can't compete with other countries.

  • c64 on 06/03/2014 - 16:38

    also depends on how much you want to maintain your employer/employee relationship

  • kwaker on 07/03/2014 - 13:16

    Ask your union or fair work australia or relevant department.

    Just letting it slide let's your employer keep thinking its OK to do this to you and everyone else when it might not be.

    Your employer obviously didn't know himself so he just dumped the disadvantage on all of all of you - the little guys. Pretty selfish and inconsiderate employer. He is making profit from your service its not charity its a business.

  • coolhead on 07/03/2014 - 14:18

    my organization closes for 3 weeks during new year & we are forcred to take 12 annual leaves… you cant do much I guess.. Its company policy and in your contract it might say somewhere they can do what they want

    • pyramid on 07/03/2014 - 14:35

      same here…my organization forced us to take 4 weeks leave during xmas out of which 12-15 were annual leave. they are also forcing 2 weeks break during easter and i'll be forced to use 7 days of annual leave

  • SirFlibbled on 07/03/2014 - 15:25
    +1

    You'll probably find there's legislation limiting the liability of utilities in these situations. I CBF researching it though.

  • mafmouf on 07/03/2014 - 23:34

    Thank you all for the comments! I appreciate it.

  • Magnate on 10/03/2014 - 14:47

    Technically if you are willing and able to work I believe you cannot be forced to take leave. I remember looking this up on the fair work australia website a couple of years ago when my old company lost a massive contract and was putting people on shorter weeks.
    Personally I would be happy to take the day as annual leave if I had a couple of weeks notice, but not a couple of hours.
    Keep in mind your relationship with your boss. The benefit you may get from sticking up for your rights may not be worth the cost to your future opportunities etc.

    • mafmouf on 13/03/2014 - 11:43
      +1

      In essence, this is the real dilemma. I know that jobs in my industry are scarce and know of a few people currently without work. In the end, I think I'll just take the consequence and live on. Thanks for the insight btw.

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