Unauthorised Absence Policy

Purpose:

To inform volunteers of their obligations in relation to attendance at work and the circumstances in which Orange Sky may deem a volunteer to have abandoned their volunteering agreement.

Scope:

This procedure applies to all Orange Sky volunteers.

Overview

Unauthorised absence occurs when a volunteer fails to attend a shift without making reasonable attempts to inform their team leader. 

Unauthorised absences may be deemed as abandonment of volunteering as outlined in the procedure below. 

OS may deem that a volunteer has abandoned their volunteering in circumstances where the employee is absent from shift for a period of 2 shifts or more without explanation; has failed to make contact with the organisation regarding their absence from shift, and/or has failed to formalise this absence by providing written advice of their intentions and does not return to volunteering.

Procedure

OS will make reasonable attempts to contact the volunteer following the missed shift via phone and email. Contact will be initiated by at least two members of the volunteer team. If no response is received the team leader will notify the Volunteer Program Manager. Upon being notified, a member of the team at HQ will initiate contact via phone and email. Detailed records of attempts to make contact will be recorded.

Where cause for concern over the wellbeing of the volunteer reasonably exists, OS may contact the volunteer’s emergency contact.

If OS has been unable to contact the volunteer, or the volunteer is contacted but advises they will not be returning to shift, the volunteer will be offboarded as per the offboarding process. 

Responsibility and Accountability

Revision

OS may make changes to this policy from time to time to improve the effectiveness of the organisations’ operation, or to reflect any changes in legislation. Additionally, this policy will be reviewed at least annually. Should the review find that there is a need to change the policy, employees who may be impacted by this proposed change will be advised prior to the change taking place.