Madeleine Harradence, Assistant Secretary of ANMF (Vic Branch)
Who is entitled to the lead apron allowance?
From 1 July 2020, under the 2020-2024 EBA, nurses and midwives who are required as part of their usual duties to wear a lead apron are entitled to the lead apron allowance.
The allowance was $8.00 a shift until December 2020 and is currently $8.49 a shift, rising to $8.74 a shift in December this year. To assist in its introduction the ANMF and VHIA have agreed to the following examples:
Example 1
Nurses/midwives required to wear a lead apron when working within interventional radiology and cardiac catheter laboratory.
Example 2
Nurses/midwives required to wear a lead apron when working in operating suites utilising fluoroscopy or cineangiography.
If it arises, other speciality units/areas may be escalated to ANMF for discussion with VHIA.
2022 Delegates Conference amendment
At the 2022 Delegates Conference, delegates passed a resolution that ANMF (Vic Branch) amend clause 30A.1 in the public sector EBA to specify that an employee working in radiology, cardiac catheter labs and operating theatres (who are required to wear a lead apron but not covered by the examples above) are to be paid the Lead Apron Allowance for each shift or part thereof.
Is there a minimum period I need to wear a lead apron to be eligible?
No. There is no minimum period you need to wear a lead apron in these areas each day to qualify for the allowance payment.
Does the employer need to confirm I have worn a lead apron on a particular shift?
No, as the allowance is paid on usual duties.
Is the lead apron allowance payable on recall or overtime?
No, just on rostered ordinary time
Why is the allowance paid daily?
The allowance is paid daily on the basis that your ordinary duty may be linked to a particular pattern of work. For example, you may provide a particular service every Thursday in a work environment that requires you to wear a lead apron. This situation would lead to you receiving the daily allowance for part of your work week but not all of it.
Staff required to wear a lead apron in operating suites where particular procedures take place utilising fluoroscopy or cineangiography would not receive the allowance on shifts where such procedures do not take place.
Do casual employees receive the lead apron allowance?
Casual employees are not excluded from the lead apron allowance clause so it will depend on whether the employee is required, as part of their usual duties, to wear a lead apron.
ANMF believe it appropriate that if a casual is used to fill a position that would have been eligible for the lead apron allowance, the allowance should be paid.
The following is an example of your first email re non-payment lead apron allowance
To: “immediate manager” “Payroll”
Re: Underpayment of wages – lead apron allowance
I write to formally request that I receive payment of the lead apron allowance I believe I am entitled to.
In pay period ending xx/xx my usual duties involved wearing a lead apron on the following occasions:
<<insert shift dates>>
I request that this underpayment be rectified in my next pay. I am happy to meet at a mutually acceptable time, accompanied by the ANMF Organiser, should you require this.
<<Name>>,<<employee number>>
If you don’t receive a positive response – or indeed any response – please send a second email for example as follows:
To: “HR manager” “Payroll Manager”
cc: records@anmfvic.asn.au
Re: Underpayment of wages
I write further to my email of xx date to formally escalate my request that I receive an offline payment to rectify an underpayment I am owed.
I requested that this underpayment be rectified within 7 days. I am happy to meet at a mutually acceptable time, accompanied by the ANMF Organiser, should you require this.
<<Name>>,<<employee number>>
If you don’t receive a positive response – or indeed any response to your second email, please notify ANMF via a member assistance inquiry form.
