Leave

TASMANIAN COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE INC POLICY STATEMENT TITLE: 1.3 Leave DATE APPROVED:

POLICY TYPE: (SOCIAL / ORGANISATIONAL / OPERATIONAL)

10 March 2005

Operational (Employment Related Policy No 1.3)

Revised August 2006.

RELATED DOCUMENTS/POLICIES: Leave Application Form

CSA Award

Study Leave Policy

Parental Leave Policy

Long Service Leave

RELEVANT KEY AREA OF STRATEGIC PLAN: 3. Strengthening the Organisation WHY IS THIS POLICY REQUIRED: TasCOSS is committed to having sound policies and procedures in relation to all areas of human resource management. TasCOSS also seeks to lead the sector in best practice in management and governance of a community organisation. This policy is to guide staff in relation to all forms of leave.

POLICY: Leave entitlements for staff employed by TasCOSS are as per the CSA award under which they are employed. For information on the following types of leave provision staff should refer to the CSA Award.

The following types of leave are available to TasCOSS employees;      

Annual Leave Sick Leave Bereavement Leave Parental Leave Study Leave Leave Without Pay

TasCOSS recognises the importance of leave provisions for employees and as such seeks to be flexible in how leave is taken. TasCOSS also recognises the importance for employees to utilise annual leave in order to have a significant break from the workplace. For this reason TasCOSS promotes the use of annual leave on a yearly basis and in blocks of at least two weeks is preferable. Employees are not to accrue more than 6 weeks annual leave without approval from the CEO. TasCOSS Leave

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TITLE: 1.3 Leave PROCEDURE: Leave Application Forms must be completed for all types of leave and forwarded to the CEO for approval. In the case of annual leave, where possible, a form should be submitted at least four weeks prior to the leave being taken. In the case of sick leave and bereavement leave, forms should be submitted upon return to work. When staff are sick or unable to attend work they are to contact TasCOSS at the earliest possible time to report their absence.

In the case of Leave without Pay (LWOP) or Study Leave, a memo must be attached to the Leave Application Form. This memo should outline the reasons for the leave – see Study Leave Policy. As both types of leave are at the discretion of the CEO, all relevant information that supports the leave application should be provided.

Leave balances and accruals are recorded on the payroll system and appear on payslips issued each fortnight.

In recognition of the work of TasCOSS staff, all staff who are permanent or on fixed term contracts of over six months will receive those normal business days between Christmas and New year each year as additional leave (maximum of 4 days and not subject to leave loading).

Flexible Leave Purchasing In recognition of the importance of a balanced work./family life, TasCOSS has in place the following flexible leave purchasing arrangements.

TasCOSS staff can purchase up to an additional four weeks annual leave per annum, by sacrificing the equal component of their salary. That is, if a staff member choses to purchase four additional weeks annual leave, their salary will be reduced by the equivalent of four weeks, to be spread across the 26 fortnights of salary payments.

Please note leave must be purchased and accrued prior to it being taken in line with other leave.

Staff may apply to revert to standard leave conditions, however in recognition of the administrative work required, requests for purchasing leave, and for reverting to standard arrangements may only be actioned once every 12 months.

An Application for Flexible Leave Purchasing Form must be completed by the staff member, authorised by the appropriate supervisor and CEO, and processed by the Finance Officer, and stored on the Personnel File of the employee.

LAST REVISED: August 2006

TasCOSS Leave

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