Working out annual leave is not always a holiday!  But by understanding your obligations as an employer, you can make the process simpler for yourself.

All employees are entitled to at least four weeks of paid annual leave.  This does not include public holidays or sick leave. You and your employee must agree when they will take time off.

View the links below to find the information you need to know to get your through the holiday season.

 

Paying employees for leave

With the right systems in place, you shouldn’t have too much trouble working out what to pay your employees with they take leave.  It’s important to:

• Keep all wage and time records and holiday and leave records up -to-date and accurate.
• Understand what your employees are entitled to – especially for those employees who work irregular or part-time hours. Find more info here

 

Public holidays

The Christmas holiday period has 4 public holidays. Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and the day after New Years Day.

When a public holiday falls on a day your employee would usually work, they are entitled to a paid day off, not matter how long they have been working for you.  If they agree to work anyway, you must:

• Pay them at least time and a half
• Give them another paid day off later – a day in lieu

More about Public holidays

 

Annual Close Downs

If your business closes for the holiday period, your employees can be required to take annual holidays, or take unpaid time off if they are not entitled to any annual holidays at the time of close down.  Employers are required to give 14 days notice of an annual closedown period.

Further close down information

 

Cashing Up

Employees can ask their employer to pay out in cash, up to one week of their four weeks’ minimum entitlement to annual holidays per year.  Requests must be made in writing and only after an employee has completed 12 months of employment.

View the can and can nots of cashing up here

 

Annual Leave Calculator

Its important to get it right the first time. Try using this calculator.

 

If you are in any doubt, please contact Co-Pilot Accounting for any clarification or assistance on how you can meet your employee obligations.