Personal Leave Entitlements
We are noticing an increase in enquiries about taking personal leave.
You should know that if you are sick, then take your leave. You don’t need to explain yourself. If you work in the Public Sector, our Agreement says that you are entitled to use the full amount of your personal leave entitlement if you have a personal illness or injury or if you’re physically or mentally unwell.
Our Agreement was updated and now says that, if required by the Employer, you will provide evidence. This can include a certificate from a health practitioner or a statutory declaration. Full-time workers accrue leave at the following rate:
- First year of service: 121 hours and 36 minutes of paid leave (16 days)
- Second, third and fourth years of service: 136 hours and 48 minutes of paid leave (18 days)
- Fifth and following years of service: 190 hours of paid leave (25 days)
Leave accrues progressively based on your ordinary hours of work and accumulates from year to year.
Leave is pro-rata for part-time workers. And you don’t accrue leave on overtime hours worked.
‘Years of service’ includes any recognised prior service, which means, if you worked at another public hospital, you may be able to recognise this prior service and start accruing personal leave with your new employer at the applicable rate above.
While this focuses on what is in the Public Sector agreement, members can find fact sheets about personal leave entitlements on our website for the Public Sector, Community Sector and Forensicare.
If you’re working in the Private Sector and want to know more about your personal leave entitlements, please contact us.
