TEU council voted last week to encourage members to plan for and take their annual leave as they become entitled to it rather than cash some of it up as they are now entitled to under the law.

TEU National President Dr Sandra Grey said this policy decision responds to the government’s new law that lets employers buy one week of annual leave off their staff.

“From 1 April, all our members are able to ask their employer to pay out in cash up to one week of their annual leave entitlement a year unless the employer has established a policy that does not provide for this to happen.”

“Annual leave is an important entitlement that allows for sufficient rest and recreation for workers. But the ability to sell one of their four weeks of annual leave that they are entitled to under statute undermines this.”

Dr Grey says cashing up leave for money also undermines family-friendly workplaces.

“Obviously everyone has individual circumstances and we are not going to tell people what they can and cannot do. But, if members feel the need to sell leave to make ends meet then the union needs to raise with the employer the adequacy of the pay rates.”

“The problem is, when we start trading important conditions, such as holidays, for money, it might mean some cash in the hand, but in the long-term the conditions are still gone and the value of the money whittles away.”

‘Four week’s annual leave is important for health safety and well-being. If it is shaved back by cash in the hand buy-outs families, friends and communities will suffer.”

“Where members already have a large amount of annual leave accrued, we can be deal with this on a case-by-case basis” she said.