WORKPLACE RELATIONS

For example, a laptop that was being used for personal use alongside work use was found to be primarily for the employer’s benefit and was not a permitted deduction from an employee’s pay.

How does this affect your practice?

Before offering to send a staff member, or agreeing to a staff request, to attend training or a conference, you should always consider your practice’s ability to cover such costs, the benefit it will provide the practice, and the potential risk of losing the employee if they attend but equally, the risk they leave if you do not agree.

Remember, there is no obligation on the employer to pay for training opportunities and conferences (and related travel expenses) that are requested by the employee.

Employees are welcome to make suggestions, but it is the employer who will choose what training and conferences employees attend at the cost of the practice. Employees may choose to undertake study or education at their own expense. If they do so, it is advisable to be clear from the outset as to who is responsible for the costs.

If an employer instructs or approves its employees to attend a training course or a conference, the employer is expected to pay for it.

Under both the Nurses Award 2020 and the HPSSA 2020, such an employer is required to meet all reasonably incurred expenses in respect to fares, meals and accommodation where travel is required. Expectations of what is reasonable, and a travel allowance for fares, meals and accommodation should be set out prior to an employee’s travel. If a practice wishes to give an employee travel and/or

Casual Vacancies

accommodation options that cost more than that approved as ‘reasonable’ by the practice, the practice may have a policy that permits the employee to make that choice on the basis the employee will have to pay for those costs over and above the reasonable costs approved by the practice. dr.

Should you require advice and support regarding travel and training expenses at your practice, please contact the AMA (NSW) Workplace Relations team at workplace@amansw. com.au or on (02) 9439 8822.

AMA (NSW) is calling for expressions of interest to fill the casual vacancies in the Obstetrician / Gynaecologist Class and the South Zone.

These positions were unfilled in the recent Council elections and may be filled by appointment of the AMA (NSW) Council as casual vacancies in accordance with Clause 40 of the Constitution.

With regard the Zone positions, members are required to work in the specified areas. Members wishing to apply for the vacancies should forward a CV by the August 1st 2023 to the CEO of AMA (NSW), Ms Fiona Davies, c/o sue.fletcher@amansw.com.au

If you require more information please contact the AMA (NSW) CEO, Ms Fiona Davies, c/o sue.fletcher@amansw.com.au or 02 9439 8822.