Taking a long service leave can be a daunting prospect. You may not know how much you will need to save, or even how long you will be away from work.
For many people, taking a long service leave south in Australia is the first time they have had to take time off for any length of time since starting their careers. This can make it difficult to plan for this kind of break.
However, with careful planning and budgeting, taking long service leave can be an enjoyable experience and help you to recharge your batteries. Here are some tips on how to prepare yourself and your finances for your next long service leave:
- Find out what’s available in your workplace
You should check with your employer about the type of leave that is available. If you’re lucky enough to have access to paid leave, then this could be enough for you to take time off without having to worry about earning money while you’re away from work. However, if they don’t offer paid leave then you may need to consider other options such as extending unpaid holidays or taking unpaid leave instead. The earlier you start saving for your Long Service Leave, the more you will have when it comes time for you to take it. So, start saving as soon as possible.
- Start Planning Early
It’s not just about having 10 years of continuous employment; you need to have worked full-time for your employer for those 10 years. So, if you’ve had multiple jobs during the past decade, make sure you know exactly how many years you’ve been working for each employer and get your paperwork together before applying for long service leave. Make sure that all arrangements are completed before going on holiday. This includes collecting passports and visas if required, making hotel bookings and organizing travel tickets. You don’t want anything holding up your plans while on holiday!
Make a list of things you want to do during your time off. Having a list will help keep you on track and remind you of all the things you want to do during your holiday. It’s also good for keeping track of what costs money, so you know how much cash is available for each activity or purchase.
- Know Your Rights
There are some conditions under which employees can’t claim long service leave including if there has been any misconduct against their employer or if they have left without giving at least 2 weeks’ notice in writing before leaving work for any reason other than illness or injury (if the person has left their job because of illness or injury then they must give notice in writing within 7 days after returning from sick leave).
- Know your obligations under the Employment Act
The Employment Act provides that employers must grant their employees a leave of absence with pay after completing five years’ continuous service with the same employer. This is known as “statutory” long service leave. The amount of statutory long service leave required to be granted depends on how many years of continuous service the employee has completed with their employer. However, employers are allowed to grant more than statutory long service leave if they wish.
