How Do I Handle Leave During Or After A Natural Disaster?

Natural disasters and serious emergencies are not a single leave type in Lightning Payroll. Choose the payroll treatment based on the agreement reached and the reason the employee is away from work.

• If the employee is sick, caring for a dependant, bereaved, or affected by family violence, use the matching statutory leave type if the entitlement applies.
• If the employer agrees to paid special leave, pay ordinary earnings or use a custom paid leave/pay item. Do not reduce statutory balances unless the statutory leave type actually applies.
• If the absence is agreed unpaid leave, record unpaid leave and consider whether the period affects annual-holiday entitlement timing or valuation.
• If the workplace is closed or inaccessible, confirm the employment agreement, wage obligations, public holiday treatment, and health-and-safety position before processing the pay.

Keep notes explaining the emergency period and the agreed payroll treatment because these cases are often reviewed later.