Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science - Leave and Absences
Leave types, entitlements and conditions
Applying for Leave
Managing Leave
Absence on Duty including Conference Travel & Attendance at Professional Development
Professional Staff Variable Leave/Flexi Leave and Time in Lieu
Leave types, entitlements and conditions
These are detailed in our Enterprise Agreement 2006-2009 (EA) at Section 4.1 and in the various leave policies . The attached document provides a summary of leave entitlements, conditions and application process for the various types of leave. Where there is any discrepancy between this document and the EA and leave policies, the EA and leave policies will always take precidence.
Annual/Long Service Leave - Discuss your leave requirements with your supervisor in the first instance
Personal Leave - please notify your supervisor by email or phone as soon as you know you are unable to attend work, provide an estimate of the duration of absence to assist with planning.
Apply for Annual Leave, Long Service Leave (full-pay) and Personal (Sick/Emergency/Carer/Compassionate/Bereavement via HR Online. Apply for all other leave types on the relevant form .
Annual Leave - Excess leave represents a considerable liability for the University. In 2009 the NSW Auditor General found that Macquarie has the highest proportion of academics with large leave balances of any university in the State. The MQ council and VC now regard reduction of excess annual leave as a strategic priority. The MQ Enterprise Agreement (2006-2009) at section 4.1 provides for the university to manage excess leave accruals for Annual Leave . With 3 months notice, managers are able to direct staff to take up to 70 hours of Annual Leave once they have reached an accrual of 280 hours (or pro-rata for part time staff).
Long Service Leave - the MQ Enterprise Agreement also provides for management of Long Service Leave. With 12 months notice managers are able to direct staff to take up to six weeks of Long Service Leave once they have reached an accrual of 4.5 months or 685 hours (or pro-rata for part time staff). Staff may request to cash out a portion of their Long Service LeaVe. Please refer to Christine Tse in Central HR for details.
Presonal Leave - the Personal Leave Policy provides for excessive use of personal leave to be managed by the University.
For Managers
Direction to Take Leave Template (use when staff member exceeds maximum annual leave accrual)
Reminder to Take Leave Template (use when staff member is approaching maximum annual leave accrual)
Excessive Absences Memo (use when staff member has taken excessive absences without supporting documentation; refer to relevant policy and contact the Faculty HR Coordinator before taking this action)
Staff undertaking travel on business must complete a travel application including an Absence on Duty Form. Staff attending a meeting or series of meetings/professional development at another metropolitan location can advise the absence by email to the Supervisor and/or Department administrator. Regular absences (e.g. a weekly meeting away from campus) may be reported at the commencement of each semester, rather than each specific occurrence. Staff are to obtain supervisor approval before attending professional development workshops or courses. Professional staff are encouraged to apply for Specialist Support Grants to contribute to costs of external courses.
Professional Staff Variable and Flexible Leave
Normal hours are deemed to be 9-5, M-F. Professional staff who obtain approval from their supervisor to work variable hours on an ongoing basis (i.e. 70 hours over less than 10 full days each fortnight) will nominate a standard fortnightly or weekly schedule on Form 11.01a, to be approved by the supervisor and lodged with the Faculty HR Manager. Staff will only be required to obtain subsequent approval of actual hours worked where these vary significantly from the approved standard program. General staff who nominate a standard schedule are deemed to meet the university's reporting requirement for variable hours. Flexible leave is provided where a staff member needs to attend an appointment during business hours (eg dentist, optician, medical check up, solicitor). By agreement with the supervisor, subject to area needs, the staff member may attend during business hours and make up the time.
General staff who do not wish to establish a standard schedule but still wish to work variable hours need to plan and report their working hours to their supervisor in accordance with the university's policy.
Written by Cathy Wright
Faculty HR Coordinator
last updated on 7 December2010