Temporary reduction of hours under a JobKeeper enabling stand down direction
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we have qualified for JobKeeper phase two.
From April to June this year SSI suffered a 15 per cent decline in turnover. We are currently projected to suffer another 15 per cent decline in turnover for the July to September and October to December quarters this year.
This means SSI is eligible for JobKeeper.
Yes, as our financial situation has not improved, we will continue to temporarily reduce staff hours under a JobKeeper enabled stand down direction.
Every situation is different, and these changes will affect different staff in different ways. Some staff will continue to be stood down. Others may have their hours reduced for the first time.
SSI has been successful in accessing JobKeeper since April.
Accessing JobKeeper has supported SSI through an unprecedented financial situation, and now a recession, triggered by the global pandemic.
Not only has this seen revenue decline for our settlement-related programs but it has also impacted many other programs and revenue streams.
Unfortunately, especially at the now reduced rate, JobKeeper 2.0 will not be enough to offset our revenue decline this quarter hence the need for us to maintain the stand-down and introduce other austerity measures.
The economic impact of the pandemic changes regularly, so we are working quarter by quarter.
At this stage we are expecting the stand down to continue until January 3, 2020. However, we will continue to assess, advise and update you on the situation.
SSI is eligible for JobKeeper as well as the provisions in the Fair Work Act, with extension periods until March 28, 2021.
The continued restrictions on international travel as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have ceased refugee settlement. As 60 percent of our revenue comes from settlement this has significantly impacted organisation’s revenue.
We have been in regular contact with our funders but, like us, they remain uncertain about when settlement will resume as normal.
The challenge facing our organisation is how we continue to avoid job losses while maintaining our quality, client-centred services.
To avoid losing members of our highly valued workforce, we are continuing to reduce hours in some areas of our organisation.
Your line manager will consult with you about what is happening within your function and how these operational changes will impact your role.
For those of you whose hours have been affected, please know this is not a reflection on your work or the quality, ethics and innovation that every SSI staff member brings to their role.
General managers will decide which roles will have reduced hours by prioritising business-critical work.
Business-critical activities are based on work that will drive the necessary outcomes to sustain the organisation and deliver on the strategic, divisional and contractual obligations.
For those of you whose hours have been affected, please know this is not a reflection on your work or the quality, ethics and innovation that every SSI staff member brings to their role.
General managers and People leaders will decide which roles will have reduced hours by prioritising business-critical work.
Business-critical activities are based on work that will drive the necessary outcomes to sustain the organisation and deliver on the strategic, divisional and contractual obligations.
Your line manager will consult with you about what is happening within your function and how these operational changes will impact your role.
We know it’s important to provide as much notice as possible.
Unfortunately, SSI was only made aware of our eligibility to Phase 2 of the JobKeeper scheme on the week of September 7 and have worked as quickly as possible to finalise details.
We will be providing staff with seven days’ notice when informing them of a continuing or new stand down. This includes the weekend.
This reduction in hours will be implemented through an element of the JobKeeper scheme known as a JobKeeper enabling stand down direction.
JobKeeper is a payment made to eligible businesses and not-for-profits affected by COVID-19 to support them in retaining employees.
JobKeeper extension 1 (the same as calling it Phase 2) starts from September 28, 2020 and finishes on January 3, 202. Eligible businesses will receive a payment of:
- $1200 per fortnight (before tax) for tier 1
- $750 per fortnight (before tax) for tier 2
Tier 1 and Tier 2 will depend on the number of hours an eligible employee works. Eligible employees who worked for 80 hours or more in the four weeks of pay periods before either 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020 (Tier 1), and those who worked less (Tier 2).
Tier 1 is now based at $1200 per fortnight (before tax) which is $300 less than JobKeeper Phase 1. JobKeeper Phase 1 paid $1500 before tax. SSI supplements the shortfall for all staff expect those on JobKeeper enabled stand down.
For current employees, if SSI is already claiming JobKeeper for you, eligibility will not need to be reassessed, and so you will not be required to complete a new nomination form agreeing to the JobKeeper Nomination.
From August 3, 2020, employers were able to nominate newly joined employees as eligible employees for the JobKeeper scheme.
These new employees must have been employed by SSI on July 1, 2020 and meet the eligibility criteria. This action has already been completed by the People and Culture team
The decision for who to stand down is reached by prioritising business-critical work. This is the process we have followed for both this round and the last round of stand downs.
This means that staff who were stood down last time may continue to be stood down. There may be some exceptions were a team member is stood up due to changes since the last round.
Business-critical activities are based on work that will drive the necessary outcomes to sustain the organisation and deliver on the strategic, divisional and contractual obligations.
We appreciate the extra work you have been putting in but do not want any staff to feel pressured to continue working extra hours, especially when on reduced income.
General managers will work with their teams to conduct a ‘stop, start, continue or invent’ workshop to help all teams prioritise work and determine the key activities for the short and medium term until we can resume normal business activities in the future.
SSI has engaged in substantial advocacy with our funders for many months in order to avoid an outcome where we have to reduce headcount. We will continue to advocate to preserve our skilled, valued workforce because we know the resumption of refugee resettlement is not a case of if – it is a case of ‘when’.
SSI has also introduced budget restrictions and is advocating for support and different revenue options with the Department of Home Affairs.
Accessing JobKeeper has supported SSI through an unprecedented financial situation, and now a recession, triggered by the global pandemic. Not only has this seen revenue decline for our settlement-related programs but it has also impacted many other programs and revenue streams.
While the LAC contract has made substantial difference, it will not fully offset the losses we have and will incur due to the reduction in revenue.
These changes are effective from September 28, which is the beginning of a new pay cycle. If your hours are reduced, your pay will also be reduced accordingly (but you will always receive at a minimum $1200/fortnight (before tax) if you are permanent staff and $750/fortnight if you are a casual or part time staff working 20 hours per week during the JobKeeper scheme).
This year we will be providing staff an additional three days ex-gratia leave during the end-of-year shutdown to complement the current two days we provide to all staff.
This will bring the total number of ex-gratia days to five days paid leave. This leave can only be applied during the end-of-year shutdown.
The Australian Federal Government’s MoneySmart website has information and advice for Australians financially affected by COVID-19. View the MoneySmart website here.
We also have a number of Be Well messages sent out through In the Loop and recently had a number of financial sessions conducted by Commonwealth Bank. Be sure to scroll through all articles In The Loop, so you don’t miss any opportunity to know how to manage your well being including that of your financials.
The Fair Work Ombudsman website provides useful information explaining the JobKeeper scheme. If you have any questions, please raise these with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
That is a decision you will need to make based your own personal situation. We are committed to timely, transparent communication with you when there is more to share about job security and the future of your role specifically.
We know that we have lost some valuable staff members already. Searching for other work in no way reflects on how much the organisation and the Executive Team values you and your contribution.
If you do find secondary employment, please notify your manager to ensure there are no conflicts of interest.
Throughout this period, we have found opportunities for staff to fill vacant roles to reduce the impact of the stand down. We will continue where possible to do this.
If you have skills you think could be made useful in other areas of the business, please speak to your manager or explore our career website via the SSI intranet, or contact your People and Culture Business Partner.