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WBC – Know your rights – requirement to take annual leave

FSU members from across the business have reported being unfairly pressured to take annual leave at a time that doesn’t suit their personal needs. Many of us have reported feeling pressured to take leave in order to reduce our annual leave accrual to below 20 days and in some cases, below 10 days.

This is unacceptable. All FSU members should be aware of our rights around the requirement to take annual leave. 

When can I be required to take annual leave? 

Any assumption by managers that 20 days of accrued annual leave (or less) is excessive is not reasonable and is not provided for within the Westpac Enterprise Agreement 2023 (EA). 

Westpac can only require employees to take annual leave if it is “reasonable”. Clause 22.2 of the EA defines “reasonable” in this case as:

  • An employee has an excessive accrual of leave.
  • Westpac has shut down part or all the business like they sometimes do at Christmas.
  • Employees haven’t taken 10 days leave in a row that year and Westpac requires us to do so.

The accrual of 20 or 30 days annual leave is not excessive. The EA does not require employees to keep their annual leave accrual below 20 days.

When deciding on the dates for taking annual leave, the EA states an employee and their manager should schedule this time with regard to the employee’s personal circumstances and preference. However, Westpac can require an employee to take at least 10 consecutive days’ annual leave during the year.

Do you feel pressured to take annual leave at a time that doesn’t suit? 

We want to hear from you. Confidentially tell us if directions to take annual leave is an issue in your workplace:

Feel pressured to take annual leave?

If you need support around this issue, please talk with your FSU Workplace Representative or contact the FSU Member Rights Centre on 1300 366 378. 

Let’s ensure our EA is working for us

Our EA outlines many more of our conditions at work in addition to annual leave. This EA is being renegotiated this year and our Union is seeking feedback from all Westpac Group employees to develop the bargaining position we take to the Bank. 

Please take the time to fill in our FSU survey here.

Keep up to date with the latest on our FSU WBC WhatsApp group.

Not a member yet? Join with your colleagues today.

In unity,
Your FSU team 

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Authorised by Julia Angrisano, Finance Sector Union of Australia, Level 13, 380 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000.
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