Taking annual leave
Annual leave accumulates based on an employee's ordinary hours and allows them to take paid time off from work.
Requesting annual leave
An employee needs to request to take annual leave before going on leave. The process for requesting annual leave is often set out in an award or registered agreement, company policy or contract of employment.
An employer can only refuse an employee's request for annual leave if the refusal is reasonable.
Rules for taking annual leave
Awards, enterprise agreements and other registered agreements can set out rules about:
- taking annual leave in advance
- managing large amounts of leave.
Find information in your award by selecting from the list below.
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- Building, construction and on-site trades
- Clerical
- Contract cleaning services
- Hair and beauty
- Health support services
- Horticulture
- Hospitality
- Manufacturing
- Real estate
- Retail
- Road Transport
- Security
- Social, community, disability and home care services
- Storage services and wholesale
- Other
- Don't know
If you're covered by a registered agreement, check the terms of your agreement for information about taking leave in advance or excessive leave. To find a registered agreement, go to the Fair Work Commission website
.
How much annual leave can be taken at one time?
There's no minimum or maximum amount of annual leave that can be taken at a time. Provided both parties agree, an employee can take a part day, single day or a number of days or weeks off.
Employees don't need to take all of their annual leave at once.
Source reference: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) section 88
Think a mistake might have been made?
Mistakes can happen. The best way to fix them usually starts with talking.
Check out our Help resolving workplace issues section for practical advice on:
- figuring out if a mistake has been made
- talking to your employer or employee about fixing it
- getting help from us if you can't resolve it.
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