The Christmas Closedown

As Christmas approaches, many staff will begin to receive encouragement from managers or supervisors in relation to the Christmas closedown. The Christmas closedown period for this year in NSW Police will be from Monday, 25 December 2013 to Friday 5 January 2024 inclusive. The Public Service Holiday has been designated for Friday, 29 December 2023.

Can I work during the closedown period?

The PSA encourages all non-frontline to take this opportunity to relax with family and friends and come back refreshed for 2024. However, staff (including non-frontline workers) seeking to work during the closedown period should liaise with their manager to discuss the matter.

Unless you can be directed to take leave (See below), it is your choice whether you work or not. Your manager should then make every effort to find suitable alternative work during this period and an alternative work location if required. The PSA believes this process should be transparent.

Once again, the PSA encourages members to regularly take leave for their own health and welfare.

Can I be directed to take recreation leave during the closedown?

Members from across NSW Police have previously raised concerns with us about directives they are receiving around the taking of leave. There are very few limits on an employees’ right to accumulate recreation leave. The following clauses from the Crown Employees (NSW Police Force Administrative Officers and Temporary Employees) Award 2009 outline these limitations:

78.2 Limits on Accumulation and Direction and take leave

78.2.1 At least two (2) consecutive weeks of recreation leave must be taken by a staff member every 12 months, except by agreement with the Commissioner in special circumstances.

78.2.3 The Commissioner will notify the staff member in writing when accrued recreation leave reaches 6 weeks or its hourly equivalent and at the same time may direct a staff member to take at least 2 weeks recreation leave within 3 months of the notification at a time convenient to the NSW Police Force.

78.2.4 The Commissioner will notify the staff member in writing when accrued recreation leave reaches 8 weeks or its hourly equivalent and direct the staff member to take at least 2 weeks recreation leave within 6 weeks of the notification. Such leave is to be taken at a time convenient to the NSW Police Force.

78.2.5 A staff member must take their recreation leave to reduce their accrual below 8 weeks or its hourly equivalent, and the NSW Police Force must cooperate in this process.

The PSA wants to hear from any member refused deferring of leave until after the Christmas shutdown or ability to work over the shutdown period where there are genuine reasons to do so. Please contact our Member Support Centre on 1300 772 679.

The PSA will not hesitate in enforcing the award entitlements of its members. Get your colleagues involved in the PSA and protecting your rights and conditions at work!