What is JobKeeper?
Find out more about JobKeeper 1.5
Find out more about JobKeeper 2.0
Under the JobKeeper Payment, businesses impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) are able to access a subsidy from the government to continue paying their employees. Eligible employers are able to claim a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee from 30 March 2020 until 27 September 2020 (JobKeeper 1.0).
On Tuesday 21 July, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that JobKeeper will continue until March next year, but it will be at a reduced amount over the December and March quarters.
As we move into the December quarter – meaning October, November, December – the JobKeeper payments will be reduced and will be delivered under a two-tiered system (JobKeeper 2.0).
Wage subsidies will be reduced from $1,500 to $1,200 a fortnight for eligible full-time workers after 27 September and reduced to $750 for those who were working less than 20 hours a week in the last two fortnights in February 2020.
For the March quarter - meaning January, February and March - JobKeeper will be further reduced to $1,000 for full-time employees and $650 for part-time workers.
Before both quarters commence, the Y will have to requalify for the scheme by demonstrating a 15% drop in revenue in affected quarters per entity.
For specific questions relating to JobKeeper and your individual circumstance, please email Humanresources.vic@ymca.org.au.
Jobkeeper 1.5
As part of the extension of JobKeeper, the government also made changes to the employee eligibility criteria for the subsidy. This is to ensure that some people who were previously ineligible will become eligible.
On Monday 3 August 2020, the new relevant date of employment changed from 1 March to 1 July 2020. This means many staff who were previously ineligible for JobKeeper may now be eligible, including:
- Long-term casual employees who reached the 12 month qualifying period between 1 March and 1 July 2020;
- New permanent employees who started working at the Y between 1 March and 1 July 2020;
- Employees who turned 18 years of age between 1 March and 1 July 2020;
- Employees who are aged 16 or 17 years and became ‘independent’ or ceased full-time study between 1 March and 1 July 2020.
All employees who are currently receiving JobKeeper payments (JobKeeper 1.0) will continue to be eligible and receive payments as usual.
Eligibility and nomination
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How do I know if I am an eligible employee for JobKeeper 1.5?
The YMCA notified relevant employees via email on Monday 24 August 2020 if they are eligible to receive the JobKeeper payments under JobKeeper 1.5. Eligible employees for JobKeeper 1.5 must meet the following criteria:
- Be currently employed by the YMCA or related entities (this includes staff stood down or de-rostered due to COVID-19 related site closures);
- Are a full-time or part-time employee or are a casual employee on a regular and systematic basis for more than 12 months (as at 1 July 2020);
- Aged 18 years or older at 1 July 2020;
- Are an Australian citizen, the holder of a permanent visa, or a Special Category (Subclass 444) Visa Holder at 1 July 2020;
- Are an Australian resident for tax purposes on 1 July 2020;
- Not in receipt of a JobKeeper Payment from another employer.
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How do I confirm that I would like to receive JobKeeper 1.5 payments through the YMCA?
You will need to complete a JobKeeper Employee Nomination Notice, which is an Australian Taxation Office form. This form was provided to you in an email when you were notified of your eligibility for JobKeeper 1.5.
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What if I didn’t receive an email to notify me whether I am eligible or not?
Please check your junk folder. If it is not in there, contact Humanresources.vic@ymca.org.au and notify them that you have not received an email notifying you of your eligibility.
Please note, staff who are already receiving JobKeeper payments (JobKeeper 1.0) will continue to do so and will therefore not receive an email regarding JobKeeper 1.5.
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How do I know if I am an eligible casual that has been employed on a ‘regular basis’?
The classification of what a regular and systematic casual employee is in line with the definition of the Fair Work Commission.
That is;
The employment that must be on a regular and systematic basis, not the hours worked. A clear pattern or roster of hours is strong evidence of regular and systematic employment.
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I am a casual who has been employed for 11 months, will the YMCA make an exemption for me to be classified as an eligible employee to receive JobKeeper 1.5?
The YMCA is required to follow the ATO JobKeeper eligibility criteria to determine which employees are eligible. If you are a casual who has been employed for 11 months, you do not meet this eligibility criteria, hence the YMCA cannot make an exemption for you to be eligible.
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If I am receiving other government payments, am I eligible for JobKeeper 1.5 payments?
If you are receiving or in the process of applying for a Centrelink / Services Australia income support payment, like JobSeeker payment, contact Services Australia and let them know that your employer has applied for the JobKeeper payment.
If you do not report the income or cancel your JobSeeker payment, you may incur a debt that you will be required to pay back. Find out more on the Australian Taxation Office website.
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The YMCA has stood me down and I commenced employment with another employer, am I eligible for JobKeeper 1.5 payments at YMCA Victoria?
If YMCA Victoria has stood you down or de-rostered you due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and you have commenced employment elsewhere, such as Coles or Woolworths, you will be entitled to receive JobKeeper payments if you meet all other JobKeeper eligibility criteria listed above.
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Are Children’s Programs and Vacation Care staff eligible for JobKeeper 1.5?
JobKeeper for Children’s Programs and some Vacation Care staff finished on 20 July as per the Federal Government’s update to the JobKeeper scheme for this sector. Unfortunately, this means that staff in this sector will not be eligible for JobKeeper 1.5.
JobKeeper payments
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When and how will I be paid my JobKeeper 1.5 payments?
Once you have submitted your Employee Nomination Form, you can expect your first JobKeeper Payment of $1,500 per fortnight before tax no later than Wednesday 2 September, 2020.
As the changes are effective from Monday 3 August 2020 and the YMCA pays wages retrospectively, you will also receive a back payment for the fortnights of 20 July – 2 August, 3 August – 16 August and 17 August – 30 August.
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How does Superannuation apply to my JobKeeper payment?
There is no Superannuation Guarantee contribution payable on the JobKeeper wage subsidy. So, for example, if you are stood down (not working) and are receiving a JobKeeper payment of (pre-tax) $1,500 – no superannuation is payable on that $1,500.
If you are on reduced hours and are earning a pre-tax amount $1,000 and are eligible for JobKeeper you will be ‘topped up’ with a pre-tax $500 JobKeeper payment – you will receive the Superannuation Guarantee on the $1,000 only.
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I have a question about my payslip/pay – how do I get in touch with Payroll?
As you can appreciate, our Payroll team is very busy and they are not a big team. All new eligible employees will receive their JobKeeper 1.5 payments on Wednesday 2 September. If you believe your payment is incorrect please contact the Payroll team at payroll.vic@ymca.org.au and they will endeavour to respond to your query as quickly as they can.
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I am having trouble logging into ADP to check my payslip – what do I need to do?
Please visit the ADP Payroll website and follow the prompts for a self-service password reset. If you have forgotten all your login details, please email the Payroll team to access these details.
Leave information
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Can I reverse any annual leave that I have taken prior to receiving JobKeeper 1.5?
You can’t reverse any paid leave already taken, however if you would like to cancel leave that is yet to be taken, you can do this by logging into RITEQ, clicking on ‘Absence’ and then deleting your request. If your leave has already been granted in RITEQ, then you will been to contact the Payroll team via payroll.vic@ymca.org.au. Please note, that all staff are still required to reduce their annual leave balance to two weeks.
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Can I top up my JobKeeper payments with annual leave?
No, you cannot request to top up your JobKeeper payments with annual leave. For example if you request to take 10 hours annual leave, which equates to $300, you would be paid out the $300 of annual leave and then topped up with the remaining $1,200 JobKeeper payment.
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I am a part time or full time employee – once I start receiving JobKeeper, will I continue to accrue leave?
Yes, all part time and full time employees will continue to accrue leave whilst receiving JobKeeper.
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Why is the YMCA asking me to take annual leave to reduce my balance to two weeks?
On 9 April 2020, the Fair Work Act was amended to support the implementation and operation of the JobKeeper scheme in Australian workplaces. This included a provision that the eligible employer can request an eligible employee to take paid annual leave (if they keep a balance of at least two weeks). You cannot unreasonably refuse this request.
Due to our current financial position, we are asking staff to take any accumulated annual leave (leaving a balance of two weeks) to ensure that we all have a YMCA to come back to after the COVID-19 crisis.
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Can I take leave at half pay?
Yes, you can take half your usual pay for twice the length of time, although this needs to be agreed in writing. If you would like to request half pay, please email payroll.vic@ymca.org.au.
Work requirements
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Once I start receiving JobKeeper 1.5 payments through the YMCA, will I be required to work my regular hours during site closures?
Currently the YMCA is following government directive on which areas of our business are safe to operate and are scheduling staff to work for business critical purposes only.
Once you commence receiving JobKeeper payments through the YMCA, you may not be required to attend work, however you must be available upon request by your management team to:
- Perform suitable work tasks/responsibilities either on site or remotely;
- Attend relevant org-wide/team specific meetings;
- Complete compulsory training and accreditations (via online methods if appropriate).
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Will staff who are receiving JobKeeper be asked to return to work prior to staff who are ineligible?
Each YMCA service and program is following government directive to resume its operations. As soon as a YMCA site is preparing to re-open, our decisions on returning employees will be based on what roles will be needed at that site.
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Can I take sick leave if I am receiving JobKeeper?
If you have been stood up and have returned to work, you are entitled to sick leave irrespective of whether you are on JobKeeper or not. If you are stood down, you are not eligible to access paid sick leave.
JobKeeper 2.0
On Tuesday 21 July, the government announced that the JobKeeper Payment wage subsidy will extend to 28 March 2021 (JobKeeper 2.0). However, the payment rate will decrease from 28 September 2020 and again from 4 January 2021.
From 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021 (the December quarter), the JobKeeper Payment will be reduced to $1,200 per fortnight for eligible employees who work an average of 20 hours or more per week, and reduced to $750 per fortnight for all other eligible employees.
From 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021 (the March quarter), the JobKeeper Payment will be $1,000 per fortnight for eligible employees who work an average of 20 hours or more per week, and $650 per fortnight for all other eligible employees.
All employees who currently receive JobKeeper (whether it be JobKeeper 1.0 or 1.5) will automatically be eligible for JobKeeper 2.0 when it comes into effect on 28 September 2020.
To determine whether you work an average of 20 hours or more per week, the YMCA will assess the hours you worked in the last two fortnights prior to 1 March or 1 July 2020 – the period with the highest number of hours will be used for the assessment.
You will be notified via email prior to JobKeeper 2.0 commencing to confirm what JobKeeper payment rate you will receive.
Eligibilty
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Is the YMCA an eligible employer for JobKeeper 2.0?
Currently, all entities at the YMCA are eligible for JobKeeper payments, with the exception of Children’s Programs and some Vacation Care staff, whose JobKeeper payments finished on 20 July as per the Federal Government’s update to the JobKeeper scheme for this sector.
As we move into the December and March quarter, we must requalify for JobKeeper by demonstrating a 15% drop in revenue in the COVID-affected quarters per entity.
We cannot know if we have requalified for the next quarter of JobKeeper (from October – December) until the current quarter is complete and we have final figures of the Y’s revenue by entity. We therefore will not know definitively if each entity has requalified until early October.
However, we believe all entities will be eligible for JobKeeper 2.0 in the December quarter, and will therefore be notifying all staff who are currently receiving JobKeeper of what payment tier they are from Monday 7 September, 2020.
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How do I know if I’m an eligible employee to receive JobKeeper 2.0?
All employees who currently receive JobKeeper (whether it be JobKeeper 1.0 or 1.5) will automatically be eligible for JobKeeper 2.0. However, a review of hours worked will need to be undertaken to determine which tier each employee falls under.
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How do I know what tier I am in?
For the December quarter, those who worked less than 20 hours a week will be moved into the part time tier, which entitles you to $750 a fortnight. Those who worked more than this amount will remain in the first tier, which entitles you to $1,200 a fortnight.
For the March quarter, these figures reduce to $1,000 and $650 respectively.
To determine whether you work an average of 20 hours or more per week, the YMCA will assess the hours you worked in the last two fortnights prior to 1 March or 1 July 2020 – the period with the highest number of hours will be used for the assessment.
You will be notified via email on Monday 7 September to confirm what JobKeeper payment rate you will receive.
If you think there has been a mistake with the review of the hours you worked, you can email Humanresources.vic@ymca.org.au.
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I currently don’t receive JobKeeper, but I believe I am eligible. Can I still submit an Employee Nomination Form?
If you are currently not receiving JobKeeper and believe you meet the government’s eligibility criteria for the subsidy, you can self-nominate by emailing Humanresources.vic@ymca.org.au.
JobKeeper payments
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When and how will I be paid my JobKeeper payments?
JobKeeper payments will continue to be paid as part of the regular fortnightly pay cycle of YMCA Victoria.
For the December quarter (October, November, December), you will receive your first payment at the reduced rate on Wednesday 30 September 2020.
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Why did I receive my first JobKeeper 2.0 payment on Wednesday 30 September?
JobKeeper 2.0 commenced on Monday 28 September. Therefore, the first payment at the reduced rate was made as part of the YMCA’s regular pay cycle on Wednesday 30 September.
The YMCA is required to make payments in accordance with the ATO’s key dates. The final payment for JobKeeper 1.0 had to be paid to eligible employees by Sunday 27 September (before JobKeeper 2.0 commenced), which staff received on Wednesday 16 September.
JobKeeper 1.0 consisted of 13 fortnights and the YMCA worked closely with the ATO to ensure all payment obligations were met prior to commencing JobKeeper 2.0 (as per the table below).
JobKeeper Fortnight
Employees must be paid on or before
YMCA Victoria paid staff on
12
13 September
2 September
13
27 September
16 September
JobKeeper 2.0
14
31 October
30 September
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I don’t want to receive JobKeeper due to the lower rate – how do I opt out?
If you want to opt out of the JobKeeper payment subsidy, please email Humanresources.vic@ymca.org.au.