Australia’s Star Entertainment Group has announced a new policy that will provide paid leave for staff who are also members of emergency service organizations.
The initiative has been introduced in response to the catastrophic bushfire crisis currently devastating the country, which has already killed at least 26 people, billions of animals and burnt almost 11 million hectares of land since early November. However, the policy will also remain in place for all other future natural disasters, Star said, with volunteer fire fighters, State Emergency Service volunteers and those representing any other organizations called into action during such events covered.
The four weeks paid leave can also be increased in instances where a team member is required to provide ongoing emergency services support for an extended period, and can be enacted more than once per year where necessary.
Aside from supporting existing volunteers in the workforce, a Star representative told Inside Asian Gaming that it hoped the policy initiative would help remove barriers for any employees wanting to join an emergency service as a volunteer but worried they would be impacted financially if called upon to assist.
Similarly, emergency service volunteers who do not want to compromise their existing volunteerism will know they can join The Star as an employee and still contribute to relief efforts without worrying about any potential financial impact.
Star Entertainment Group, which has already pledged donations totaling AU$150,000 to bushfire relief organizations, boasts around 9,500 employees nationwide.
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