ACC

I wonder if anyone can help me because I'm really confused.

DH had an accident at work yesterday (fell off his digger and smashed his knee) and as a result is having surgery today and will be off work for at least 8-10 weeks. I know ACC doesn't cover the first week when it comes to earnings, but on their website they say this is paid by the employer if it's a work-related injury - is this just paid by the employer, or is it paid by the employer using DH's sick leave??? I really really need to find this out before next week's pay and it's so confusing!!!

Thanks Kaz - Yeah I know they only pay 80% of the wages...that's cool, it's the first week that is confusing me...there's so much going on at the moment that I'm starting with something easy to figure out

When my partner recieved an injury, the first week was paid out of his sick leave. It kinda upset me as i means that for the next 6months, I can't ask him to stay home if I'm too sick to look after our daughter.

Gah, I'll try find his contract...we of course cleaned the room out that had all the papers in to turn it into the nursery so who knows where the box has gone LOL

It's not an issue too much, as he has the sick leave to cover the majority of it, but it would be nice for him to have some left for the future, especially with these two heffalumps arriving...ahhhh well, what doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger I guess I just can't help but laugh really (or I will bawl my eyes out), what fantastic timing...

I'm not sure about the first 5 days but after that they work the 80% out on the previous 5 weeks so if he's had any time off unpaid that will be taken into account and he would get less. After 5 weeks (if I remember correctly) they take 80% of his earnings over the last 12 months, so again something to bear in mind if he has had time off unpaid.
On the flip side if he has done a lot of overtime recently the 80% may end up being near his normal pay or more.

I also thought you had to use your sick leave.

I hope your DH is ok Kate!

No it shouldn't come out of your sick leave. That is totally incorrect for a work related accident.

The employer should pay 80% of average earnings. So if he's earns a set amount each week it will be 80% of this. If he earns overtime or his hours fluctate then he will still get 80% but it will be either averaged over the past 4 weeks, 3 months or 52 weeks.

In most payroll systems there will be a separate ACC function to enable employers to do this.

If you injury yourself outside work, ie non work accident then you can use your sick leave.

Please note what I said about is from my experience with Acepay, but should be similar as to all payroll systems.

ha ha i am just going thru the same thing at the moment Kate with two guys from work.. one work related and one not.

your employer pays the 1st week... normally they use sick leave 1st and then pay the rest at 80%

if it is outside work accident the employer does not need to pay anything from the last hour of work you work.. not even sick leave

hope this helps

yeah pretty sure its the sick leave or they can negotiate to use any holiday left owing. It all depends on the employer

No it is not sick leave, & is definitely not dependant on the employer. It is 80% of their wages. He had the accident while at work in a place where employers have to keep their staff safe. So essential it is their fault they did not put in place things to keep him safe so there fore they pay.

Please ring ACC to clarify.

Sick leave is for when you are sick & is used if you have any if you can't go to work. An employer can not make you take sick leave for an accident caused on their work sites.

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