Your Guide to Annual Leave

Annual leave is your paid time off work — basically, getting paid while you’re chilling on the beach, seeing mates, or just taking a break.

It’s one of the rights that unions fought hard to win for workers back in 1970, and it’s yours by law.

What is Annual Leave?

Annual leave is time off work where you still get paid. You can use it for holidays, birthdays, spending time with family and friends, or just recharging your batteries.

The basics:

• If you work full-time, you get at least 4 weeks of paid leave every year
• Part-time workers get the same amount, but calculated based on hours worked. So, say you work a five-day fortnight (0.5FTE) – you would get two weeks of annual leave each year.
• Some jobs (like shift workers) get even more — often 5 weeks

Heads up for casual workers: You don’t automatically get annual leave unless it’s been specifically negotiated at your workplace. This is one reason why joining your union matters — collective bargaining can win you benefits like this.

How Your Leave Builds Up

Your annual leave starts building up from your first day on the job, even if you’re on probation. For a full-time worker, that’s about 2.9 hours every week you work.

Here’s the quick maths: 4 weeks x 38 hours = 152 hours per year (for full-timers working standard hours).

Your leave keeps building while you’re:

• On other paid leave (like sick leave)
• On annual leave itself
• Doing jury duty
• Doing community service

It doesn’t build up when you’re:

• On unpaid leave (unless you’re doing community service)
• On the Federal Government’s Paid Parental Leave Scheme
• Stood down from work

Any leave you don’t use rolls over to next year. If you leave your job with unused leave saved up, you get paid out for it.

How to Take Your Leave

You can take annual leave whenever you want, however you want — whether that’s one day at a time or a massive 4-week trip. The only limit is how much you’ve saved up.

The process:
Most workplaces have a form or system for requesting leave. You and your employer need to agree on when you’ll take it. Your employer can’t unreasonably refuse your request — if they say no, they should give you a proper reason or suggest an alternative date.

Pro tip: Give as much notice as possible. Planning ahead makes it easier for everyone and reduces the chance of your leave being knocked back.

Can your boss force you to take leave?

Sometimes, but only in specific situations and only if it’s reasonable. This might happen if you’ve built up heaps of leave or if the workplace is shutting down temporarily (like over Christmas). Check your award or agreement for the specific rules.

What about public holidays?

Good news — public holidays that fall during your annual leave don’t count toward your leave balance. You get those days off anyway, so they won’t eat into your saved-up leave.

Getting Paid While on Leave

When you’re on annual leave, you get paid at least your base rate — that’s your normal hourly rate without extras like penalties, allowances, or overtime.

Leave loading — a bonus?

Many awards and agreements also give you leave loading — usually an extra 17.5% on top of your base pay while you’re on leave. Check your award or enterprise agreement to see if this applies to you.

What about super?

Yes! Your employer still has to pay your superannuation while you’re on annual leave.

Know Your Rights

Your employer must provide a breakdown of your leave on your payslip, showing:

• How much leave you’ve accumulated
• How much you’ve taken
• Any loadings or allowances you’re entitled to

Always check your payslips to make sure your leave is being tracked correctly. If something looks off, speak up!

Annual Leave vs Personal/Sick Leave

These are different types of leave:

• Annual leave: Planned time off that you schedule in advance — holidays, travel, rest.

• Personal/sick leave: When you or a family member is sick, injured, or dealing with an emergency. This shouldn’t come out of your annual leave.

Make sure your employer uses the right type of leave for each situation. If you’re sick, that’s sick leave — not annual leave.

Can You Cash Out Your Leave?

Cashing out means getting paid for your leave instead of taking time off. Some awards and agreements allow this, BUT you can never be forced or pressured into it.

Honestly? Taking actual time off is usually better for your health and wellbeing. Money’s great, but so is rest.

Why This Matters

Annual leave didn’t just appear out of nowhere — unions fought for it in 1970. Before that, most workers didn’t have the right to paid holidays.

Today, your union continues to protect these rights and fight for better conditions. That might mean:

• Making sure casual workers get leave entitlements
• Negotiating for more than the minimum 4 weeks
• Fighting back if your employer tries to deny your leave
• Ensuring you get paid correctly, including leave loading

Questions or Problems?

If you’re having issues with your annual leave — like your employer refusing reasonable requests, not paying you correctly, or not tracking your leave properly — reach out to your union. That’s what we’re here for.

Not in a union yet? Now’s a great time to join. Workers with union backing have more power to enforce their rights and negotiate better conditions.

Remember: Annual leave is your right. Use it, enjoy it, and don’t let anyone take it away from you.

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