Leave entitlements discussion

[mrsterryn]

When I left fed gov 4 years ago I had significant personal leave left
However under the current agreement at the time personal leave was also for carers leave.
As per previously mentioned husband had a significant brain tumour and there was a distinct possibility he would stroke out on the operating table, die , have numerous mobility and other issues.
I was given a carers certificate for 9 weeks. I really didn't care what I was paid with (or paid )
How ever my boss at the time went to bat for me with the Canberra bosses and had my time off approved as carers.
Still left with quite a few months of leave left.
On the other side I also sent staff home if they came to work obviously unwell, coughing and sputtering. As others have said the roll on effect would put more of my staff out

 

[JohnK]

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

You mean asked to leave? There has never been any discussion anywhere I've worked regarding sick leave on a Monday or Friday. They are no different to any other day of the week. Actually it's the ones that take sick leave Tuesday-Thursday you need to worry about more.

Most companies are quite strict when it comes to sick leave before/after public holidays or planned annual leave.

And here's one a lot of people don't know. If you're sick during annual leave with a doctors certificate you can claim sick leave.

 

[blackcat20]

Why would you need to worry about those sick during the week? Illness cant read a diary....

 

[Milboo]

You don’t necessarily need a med cert to convert annual leave to sick leave if sick while on AL. All depends on your employer.

Don’t think mine even registered I’d done it!

But then again, the $300 doctor bill in Prague was put on my work credit card. I got sick during a work trip and as I was on a course, could not take time out to rest etc and then got progressively worse when on the personal part of the trip and needed medical intervention so I would be well enough to fly home.

 

[Deleted member]

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

Unfortunately, many small businesses would go to the wall if they had to pay for maternity leave on top of all the other on costs

 

[JohnK]

Why would you need to worry about those sick during the week? Illness cant read a diary....

For the same reason anyone worries about those sick on a Monday or Friday.

If anyone doesn't trust their employees are not doing the right thing then probably best to end the relationship. By far the simplest solution is to assume the employee will be missing for at least 8 weeks in the year.

 

[travelislife]

Unfortunately, many small businesses would go to the wall if they had to pay for maternity leave on top of all the other on costs

Yep, work in an SME and government mandated only. Nothing more.

 

[blackcat20]

For the same reason anyone worries about those sick on a Monday or Friday.

If anyone doesn't trust their employees are not doing the right thing then probably best to end the relationship. By far the simplest solution is to assume the employee will be missing for at least 8 weeks in the year.

8 weeks!!! That's just taking the p***.

 

[JohnK]

8 weeks!!! That's just taking the p***.

Why? Very simple calculation.

4 weeks annual leave + 2 weeks public holiday + 2 weeks sick leave = 8 weeks. That's the minimum you should expect an employee will take each year.

Then there are some that have an additional .83 weeks long service each year.

And some are allowed to purchase up to 2 weeks additional annual leave.

And some can have very lengthy maternity leave which can be quite unfair if your company does not participate .

And some also take approved unpaid leave.

All part of running a business.

 

[cove]

Why? Very simple calculation.

4 weeks annual leave + 2 weeks public holiday + 2 weeks sick leave = 8 weeks. That's the minimum you should expect an employee will take each year.

Then there are some that have an additional .83 weeks long service each year.

And some are allowed to purchase up to 2 weeks additional annual leave.

And some can have very lengthy maternity leave which can be quite unfair if your company does not participate .

And some also take approved unpaid leave.

All part of running a business.

A safe way of working out a suitable hourly rate is to use 220 working days for the year as that number allows for the various days where you don’t work.

 

[serfty]

A safe way of working out a suitable hourly rate is to use 220 working days for the year as that number allows for the various days where you don’t work.

I allow for 230 as per post #77 and related. I am my own employee ...

 

[cove]

In the times when I first started working for the man it was 227 days but it has reduced a bit since then. I used to work Saturday mornings and some Saturday afternoons when we were saving up to buy our first place together.
My sons work on Good Friday, New Years Day and other pubic holidays if they get offered and they add days to their annual leave rather than the extra pay.

 

[JohnK]

A safe way of working out a suitable hourly rate is to use 220 working days for the year as that number allows for the various days where you don’t work.

220 days feels like a big number. I'd be far happier if I reduced that to 180 days per year and pay less tax.

 

[GSP]

220 days feels like a big number. I'd be far happier if I reduced that to 180 days per year and pay less tax.

Well that's simple, go part time or 4 days a week.

 

[JohnK]

Well that's simple, go part time or 4 days a week.

Not so simple if wife and daughter go back to Sydney. I'd need to take unpaid leave so I can spend a week or 2 there every couple of months.

 

[GSP]

Not so simple if wife and daughter go back to Sydney. I'd need to take unpaid leave so I can spend a week or 2 there every couple of months.

I've got no idea what your on about. Are you saying if you go part time your wife and daughter will leave you and go back to Sydney? Anyhow, I'm sure there's some logic or background I'm unaware of. But Part time would give you the # of days per year you want.

 

[JohnK]

I've got no idea what your on about. Are you saying if you go part time your wife and daughter will leave you and go back to Sydney? Anyhow, I'm sure there's some logic or background I'm unaware of. But Part time would give you the # of days per year you want.

Apologies. Daughter will be going to school in Sydney in a couple of years time while I am still working in Brisbane.

I won't be going back to Sydney every week so part time would mean that I'll have days off in Brisbane which I don't want if wife and daughter are in Sydney. Another thought is wife can visit me in Brisbane for a week and mum can look after our daughter.

Another thing against part time is choosing a day of the week not to work and there's a chance that some public holidays will be lost.

 

[docjames]

Apologies. Daughter will be going to school in Sydney in a couple of years time while I am still working in Brisbane.

I won't be going back to Sydney every week so part time would mean that I'll have days off in Brisbane which I don't want if wife and daughter are in Sydney. Another thought is wife can visit me in Brisbane for a week and mum can look after our daughter.

Another thing against part time is choosing a day of the week not to work and there's a chance that some public holidays will be lost.

Surely you just work Mo to Th then you get all the monday PHs and forgo only 1 PH (Good friday). But get a three day weekend every week as the trade off.

Of course, you've got similar costs (accom in Bris, airfares etc) but only 80% income......

 

[JohnK]

Surely you just work Mo to Th then you get all the monday PHs and forgo only 1 PH (Good friday). But get a three day weekend every week as the trade off.

Of course, you've got similar costs (accom in Bris, airfares etc) but only 80% income......

That's one possibility.

I don't care about getting only 75%-%80 income. I'm trying to prolong my working career by a few years to give me a little more time to save but it also gives me a few extra trips to Thailand. I can't see myself travelling too much once retired.

I feel purchasing 2 weeks additional leave and 3-6 weeks unpaid leave should be enough. Rough plan is 3 x 2 week trips Thailand and 3-6 x 1 week trips to Sydney which should ensure I work no more than 8 week stints.

Of course an even better solution could be contracting working 3-6 months/year but they're not easy to find.

 

[Milboo]

You must have a very accomodating employer - allowing around 8 weeks of additional leave, on top of your 4 weeks AL, and the sick days you take too.

But you have to be very careful. If you are able to be absent for around 14 weeks out of 52, it raises questions as to whether your position is surplus to business needs. Plus it pisses colleagues off pretty quickly as they’ll be having to cover for you. And that’s generally how management’s interest is gained.