Calls for Fair Work to reward non-care staff with pay boost grow louder

The 15% increase to aged care award wages signifies a major victory for the industry and those involved in the Aged Care Work Value case. Yet it’s not all good news as the ramifications on non-direct care staff show just how precarious workforce satisfaction is.

While nurses, lifestyle workers and personal care workers are among those celebrating increased wages, the majority of non-direct care staff are now forced to watch their colleagues receive a major Government-funded pay bump. It’s a bitter blow for workers and leaders alike, as Whiddon Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chris Mamarelis explained. 

“The 15% increase applied to care staff is obviously a fantastic thing, we’re passing on the modern award increase and we celebrate that. However, the remaining non-care employees have been left behind and it’s extremely frustrating because there’s not a lot of discussion, activity or noise in relation to what happens next,” Mr Mamarelis said.

“When you’re on the ground and you’re talking to employees, there are so many non-care employees who are feeling undervalued and left out. They’re hurting from it because they have been in the trenches for the last couple of years. But Fair Work is an independent body so all we can do is create awareness and hope someone at Fair Work understands the damage being done on the ground.”

The Fair Work Commission is progressing through Stage 3 of the Work Value Case, with the most recent hearing held on July 25. The hearing itself covered a variety of issues raised by aged care providers, unions and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF). Non-care staff, including admin, gardeners and food service workers are at the centre of several discussions regarding potential wage increases. Further increases for direct care staff are also being considered. 

Mr Mamarelis said it’s essential for the Commission to recognise how non-care roles have changed over time, with staff taking on new responsibilities directly related to the health, care and well-being of residents and home care clients. 

“Their roles have changed dramatically and it’s extremely unfair when they’re part of a team looking after the same communities and their colleagues are getting a 15% increase and they’re not,” he said.

Pay divide could lead to workforce losses

As the 15% pay rise for direct care workers was intended to boost staff retention, there are now fears staff ignored by the pay rise could be pushed out the door. IRT Group CEO Patrick Reid expressed his frustration at the Government’s apparent dismissal of staff they deem as non-care. He’s concerned the Commission could also view remaining aged care staff as “not meeting the bar of direct care”. This has placed additional pressure on CEOs like Mr Reid.

“The struggle is I have staff emailing me, speaking to me on site, aggrieved about the disparity that’s emerging here. Our capability and capacity to pay that differential for those staff is, is exceptionally limited,” Mr Reid said.

“In the short term, they’ve [Federal Government] made a promise to aged care workers but it seems everybody’s equal until they’re not.”

“I have emails from staff saying ‘If we’re forgotten again, then I’m not going to hang around, I’m going to go and work for Aldi because I’ll get more pay’.”

“Without those people, the wheels will come to a halt and we can’t care for people.”

With shared concerns about staff satisfaction, both CEOs have called for the Fair Work Commission to acknowledge workers this coming Aged Care Employees Day on August 7. They believe it would be an opportune time to announce an impending pay rise as Mr Mamarelis said the remaining workforce deserves recognition on a meaningful day. 

Mr Reid provided a touch of realism, however, as he honed in on potential financial limitations after the most recent Budget set aside such a large contribution for aged care. 

“The pay rise would be an amazing boost to the remaining staff members, but in saying that, the envelope is only a certain size. Then for the Aged Care Taskforce, it’s incumbent on them to find alternate methods to fund these sorts of things so aged care isn’t always on the back foot,” he said.