The PSA is aware staff at the Australia Museum have been requested to make plans for leave inconsistent with the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009. A discussion between the PSA and management at the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) on Friday identified where the miscommunication occurred. Some letters and communications reminded staff to make a plan for leave at 20 days, confusing the direction with 30 days. The PSA would like to thank the diligence of Australian Museum Delegates and members in identifying the issue so it could be resolved.
The PSA recognises management is able to direct staff onto leave where they don’t meet their employee obligations under the Award. As such, the PSA implores its members to ensure they are a breast of their entitlements and requirements.
Can I be directed to take recreation leave?
It is an employee responsibility to maintain your recreation leave accrual below eight weeks (40 days) and the department is required to cooperate with this, by approving reasonable leave requests. (77.2.5).
You can be required to take recreation leave when you have accrued an ‘excess’ balance as defined by clause 77.2 of the Crown Employees (Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009.
The PSA encourages members to regularly take recreation leave for your own health and wellbeing.
At what stage can my manager notify me that I am at the maximum leave balance?
Management should notify you in writing when your recreation leave accrual reaches six weeks (30 days) and may direct you to take at least two weeks’ recreation leave over a three-month period from the time you are notified. (77.2.3)
Management should notify you in writing when your recreation leave accrual reaches eight weeks (40 days) and may direct you to take at least two weeks’ recreation leave within six weeks from the time you’ve been notified. (77.2.4)
In practice, once you have been notified, this should involve advising your manager of your plans to take leave during the period and ensuring it is at a suitable time to be approved.
Your Performance Development Plan and excess leave balance
Your Performance Development Plan (PDP) is a working document for both you and your manager to record commitments to current work priorities and projected training and professional development goals. If you are unsure what should go in your PDP you can request a template from HR.
Since the award sets out the requirements to which employer and employee should comply, there is no need for your leave balance to be recorded in your PDP.
Members are advised if a requirement to keep your recreation leave balance under 30 days is put in to your PDP by a manager, to add your own comment and initial it, confirming your leave balance will be as per the Crown Employees Award.