Not For Profit aged care providers, Whiddon and Warrigal, are topping up the pay of indirect care staff, who missed out on the 15% pay rise awarded to direct care staff from 1 July 2023, as pressure mounts for the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to extend the pay rise to all aged care workers after it holds further hearings in December.
Missing out on the pay rise has impacted morale, Whiddon CEO Chris Mamarelis told The SOURCE.
“No matter where I am, whether I’m in Bourke or whether I'm in Glenfield in Sydney, [indirect care workers] are feeling undervalued,” he said.
Whiddon, which operates 23 aged care homes in NSW and Southeast QLD, is paying indirect care staff a $900 per employee ‘appreciation payment’, paid on a "sliding scale” depending on hours worked.
Whiddon expects to announce the outcomes of its enterprise agreement review “shortly”, but Chris said it will mean “all employees will be subject to further [pay] increases”.
Whiddon will review the special payment in the New Year once they have seen the FWC’s Stage 3 decision.
Warrigal pays $750
In August 2023, NSW-based provider Warrigal paid indirect care staff – including cleaners, food services workers, maintenance staff, and laundry workers – an “ex-gratia” payment of $750, prorated for part-time and casual staff.
“Warrigal eagerly awaits the outcome of Stage 3, and is hopeful the FWC will recognise the value of the work performed by these integral staff members,” their annual report states.
Last week, we wrote that Uniting has written to the Fair Work Commission in support of extending the full 25% pay rise to all aged care workers.
Are you topping up pay for indirect care staff? Email us at editor@theweeklysource.com.au.
