COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment Available!!!
The Government has announced on 8th February 2021 a new COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment (STAP) scheme which is available from 9th February 2021 through Work and Income.
This scheme is to help support employers for employees, and self-employed workers who:
• cannot work from home, and
• need to miss work to stay home while waiting for a COVID-19 test result (in line with public health guidance).
The STAP payment is a one-off payment of $350 for each eligible worker.
For each eligible worker, you can only apply for it once, in any 30-day period (unless a health official or doctor tells the worker to get another test).
GST is not payable on the STAP.
The STAP is to be processed within the same pay period it is received in with the pay run of the employee’s normal salary or wage for that pay period.
Any amount passed to employees by the employer is ‘excluded income, so this is not to be included as income or claimable as a deduction on their income tax return.
The employee pays tax on the amount they receive. Any excess amount not passed on to an employee is taxable and must be included on the employer's income tax return.
If you are unsure if you are eligible for the STAP payment OR need to include this income in your next income tax return, please contact your GECA Advisor.
Anyone who is unwell should call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or talk to their doctor or health provider. Businesses should encourage their workers to do this if they're unwell.
Useful Links:
workandincome.govt.nz...
www.beehive.govt.nz......
www.ird.govt.nz...
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.4% Yes
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14% No
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1.6% Other - I'll share below
Riddle Me This: Can You Out-Smart Yesterday’s Champ?
How can the number four be half of five?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Does Your Organisation Need New Flooring?
Is the flooring at your school, early childhood, community or sports centre old and threadbare? Or perhaps you have a new space where there’s no flooring at all. Your organisation could be eligible to receive $2,000 + gst from the RhinoKids Flooring Fund to go towards new flooring. Plus, one lucky organisation will win a $20,000 flooring makeover!
Carpet Court is continuing its’ mission to help improve Kiwi kids’ learning environments by rolling out its’ nationwide fund for the fifth year in a row. Apply today!