Ai Group denies accusations over 'sleepover' arrangements for care workers

The Ai Group has denied accusations from unions that it wants care staff workers to undertake longer working hours in its bid to seek clarifications over sleepover arrangements.

Sleepover arrangements in the care sector refer to situations when a worker sleeps at the same location as their client for eight hours but is required to provide care if needed.

Community and disability support workers who undertake sleepover arrangements receive overtime pay if they work more than 10 hours before or after their sleepover, according to the Australian Services Union (ASU).

However, the ASU is accusing the Ai Group of wanting to double the hours required before overtime applies in its recent application to the Fair Work Commission.

"Effectively, employers want workers to be on shift for more than a whole day for less pay," said Angus McFarland, ASU NSW & ACT secretary, in a statement.

According to McFarland, the Ai Group's move could lead to workers taking on 28-hour shifts without proper rest, breaks, or penalty rates.

"Sleepover shifts aren't 'breaks.' Workers are away from their families, confined to their workplace, and struggle to get a restful night's sleep. They cannot leave freely and are frequently woken up at all hours to support clients in need," the secretary said.

"It's fair and reasonable that sleepover shifts are not currently considered a break between rostered periods - big business' attempt to change this devalues workers and disregards their rights."

Ai Group denies union accusations

But the Ai Group denied the accusations made by the ASU.

"Assertions that the Ai Group proposal will result in workers undertaking longer hours or operating while fatigued are simply inaccurate," said Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox in a statement.

According to Willox, the association only wants to address a "technical anomaly" in the wording of the current award that has been interpreted to be "unexpectedly and unsustainably generous to employees."

"Ai Group is not seeking a radical change to the current award terms or to take anything away from anyone," he said.

"We are seeking to clarify the current ambiguous and notoriously unclear wording of certain award clauses that has resulted in confusion, disputation and disagreement in the industry over how the provisions should be read."

Willox stressed that the association is not seeking to alter the number of hours that a worker can undertake.

"This is largely a case about how penalty rates and shift allowances should be calculated, not about what hours can be worked," he said.