Leave entitlements discussion

[kpc]

Outside of government, universities (effectively government writ large) and ultra-large corporations, I wonder how this is handled by SMEs?

@cove may (but then again, may not...) care to provide some insight.

I know a lot of small businesses only employ older women for this reason...not saying it is right or wrong but that is what happens.

 

[cove]

In Australia women who are over fifty five have considerable trouble switching jobs and we find real talent there. Our recent hire told us she had almost lost hope in the job market and she comes to work with a big smile on her face. We chose the older lady and it has worked.
We hold just under a million dollars in cashable securities to fund LSL,Annual Leave and Personal Leave. There is no tax deductions until the money is spent.
We have around 100 on the payroll which after allowing for part timers ends up at around 80 full time equivalents.
Most businesses 10 times our size would be unlikely to have their employees entitlements in cashable securities.earning 6% to 8%.
Typically in a business our size we would have about three in the departures lounge.

 

[blackcat20]

Lots of smaller businesses don't pay any mat leave at all. At least they have government parental pay entitlements.

 

[love_the_life]

When I had my first child it was up to the principal whether you were given any time off and had a job to come back to. Some were allowed to and some not.

 

[Pushka]

Outside of government, universities (effectively government writ large) and ultra-large corporations, I wonder how this is handled by SMEs?

@cove may (but then again, may not...) care to provide some insight.

We certainly couldn’t afford to do this as a small business. And like cove we have had some older women, in their fifties, who have so many skills that normally find it hard to get work but are thrilled when we as oldies, recognise those skills and employ them. We have a younger woman with us know who may or may not have another child but she too is gold.

 

[Buzzard]

When I got into my own business in 1998 I was given this advice:
Only employ people with kids and a mortgage.

 

[JohnM]

Could you even get away with asking people questions to find out that status these days, I wonder?

 

[Buzzard]

Could you even get away with asking people questions to find out that status these days, I wonder?

I don't recall ever asking those questions.

 

[JohnM]

Probably just as well you didn't... .

 

[blackcat20]

You can ask them, but the candidate is under no requirement to answer them..

 

[Hvr]

You can ask them, but the candidate is under no requirement to answer them..

If the interviewer asks them and the candidate doesn't get the job then they may well reasonably assume that their (non) answers were the reason .
The questions could reasonably be said to constitute unlawful discrimination.

No competent interviewer would ever ask these or similar questions.

Questions in Job Interviews | Australian Human Rights Commission

 

[Happy Dude]

I'm impressed at some of the LSL balances here. I've been toiling for 11 years and have accrued 46 days, ie 8.6667 weeks every 10yrs.

My neighbour is a government lawyer and his accrued at 13 weeks every 10 years, so some employers are quite generous.

The SME company I work for plays a very straight bat regarding leave entitlements - not a penny more than the law requires. Except parental leave. Up to 12 weeks for primary care givers, 2-3 weeks for a partner.

 

[pauly7]

Sick leave is for taking when sick. After years of pushing through I finally learned to just take the time off when needed. No one else wants to catch your germs.

150% agree. My teams know better to turn up with so much as a sniffle. I know it’s mostly well intentioned the ‘soldier on’, but I just tell them I think it’s selfish, they can all work remotely anyway so if they feel they can do some work I’m more than happy for them to jump online at home and do some work, if they do 4 hours or whatever from home they can just take 0.5 sick days instead of 1.

I don’t want to get sick, even if it’s just a cold. Especially with the travel I do, travelling with even a cold is a PITA! And I certainly don’t want anyone else on my team getting sick from another team member too!

 

[cove]

The problem we have in Australia is where folks get really wasted on the weekend and proceed to take Monday’s and Fridays off to continue that behaviour.

 

[love_the_life]

150% agree. My teams know better to turn up with so much as a sniffle. I know it’s mostly well intentioned the ‘soldier on’, but I just tell them I think it’s selfish, they can all work remotely anyway so if they feel they can do some work I’m more than happy for them to jump online at home and do some work, if they do 4 hours or whatever from home they can just take 0.5 sick days instead of 1.

I don’t want to get sick, even if it’s just a cold. Especially with the travel I do, travelling with even a cold is a PITA! And I certainly don’t want anyone else on my team getting sick from another team member too!

It's funny but I remember a few (well quite a few) years ago, the then principal of the school where I was teaching, told the staff that we needed to soldier on and not take sick leave unless we were really ill and unable to get out of bed. She was basing this on her experience in London during the war when people just had to get on with it.

 

[JohnK]

The problem we have in Australia is where folks get really wasted on the weekend and proceed to take Monday’s and Fridays off to continue that behaviour.

That's not a problem. That's why sick days are there.

My most common sick days by far are Friday and Monday. They are not there for a long weekend and neither they are there because I am wasted.

Work hard all week and I'm wasted by Friday and may not go to work. Work a full week and then a busy weekend at home and guess what?

 

[GSP]

That's not a problem. That's why sick days are there.

My most common sick days by far are Friday and Monday. They are not there for a long weekend and neither they are there because I am wasted.

Work hard all week and I'm wasted by Friday and may not go to work. Work a full week and then a busy weekend at home and guess what?

You may need to takes some multivitamins!!

 

[TomVexille]

At my previous employer a medical certificate was required for any Monday/Friday and any day either side of a public holiday.

As a majority of the employees were 17-23 year old males, I think the policy is about teaching some responsibility.

 

[cove]

Those Monday and Friday takers are often the most surprised when they find themselves in the departures lounge(using AFF speak).

 

[GSP]

Those Monday and Friday takers are often the most surprised when they find themselves in the departures lounge(using AFF speak).

Awaiting seats 30B or 30E on a 737 no doubt.