Following the Fair Work Commission full bench decision on 24 June 2016, the Horse and Greyhound Training Award 2010 (HGTA) was varied as follows:
- Clause 23.2 Annual leave in advance
- Clause 23.7 Electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment of annual leave
- Clause 23.8 Cashing out of annual leave
In accordance with s.165(3) of the Fair Work Act 2009 this determination does not take effect until the start of the first full pay period on or after 29 July 2016.
23.2 Annual leave in advance
(a) An employer and employee may agree in writing to the employee taking a period of paid annual leave before the employee has accrued an entitlement to the leave.
(b) An agreement must:
(i) state the amount of leave to be taken in advance and the date on which the leave is to commence; and
(ii) be signed by the employer and employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.
Note: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 23.2 is set out at Schedule F. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule F.
(c) The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 23.2 as an employee record.
(d) If, on the termination of the employee’s employment, the employee has not accrued an entitlement to all of a period of paid annual leave already taken in accordance with an agreement under clause 23.2, the employer may deduct from any money due to the employee on termination an amount equal to the amount that was paid to the employee in respect of any part of the period of annual leave taken in advance to which an entitlement has not been accrued.
2. By inserting clause 23.7 as follows:
23.7 Electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment of annual leave
Despite anything else in this clause, an employee paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) may be paid in accordance with their usual pay cycle while on paid annual leave.
3. By inserting clause 23.8 as follows:
23.8 Cashing out of annual leave
(a) Paid annual leave must not be cashed out except in accordance with an agreement under clause 23.8.
(b) Each cashing out of a particular amount of paid annual leave must be the subject of a separate agreement under clause 23.8.
(c) An employer and an employee may agree in writing to the cashing out of a particular amount of accrued paid annual leave by the employee.
(d) An agreement under clause 23.8 must state:
(i) the amount of leave to be cashed out and the payment to be made to the employee for it; and
(ii) the date on which the payment is to be made.
(e) An agreement under clause 23.8 must be signed by the employer and employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.
(f) The payment must not be less than the amount that would have been payable had the employee taken the leave at the time the payment is made.
(g) An agreement must not result in the employee’s remaining accrued entitlement to paid annual leave being less than 4 weeks.
(h) The maximum amount of accrued paid annual leave that may be cashed out in any period of 12 months is 2 weeks.
(i) The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 23.8 as an employee record.
Note 1: Under section 344 of the Fair Work Act, an employer must not exert undue influence or undue pressure on an employee to make, or not make, an agreement under clause 23.8.
Note 2: Under section 345(1) of the Fair Work Act, a person must not knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation about the workplace rights of another person under clause 23.8.
Note 3: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 23.8 is set out at Schedule G. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule G.
4. By inserting Schedule F - Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance as follows:
CLICK HERE to access Schedule F - Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance
5. By inserting Schedule G - Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave as follows:
CLICK HERE to access Schedule G - Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave
The ATA’s Industrial Relations Manager is contactable on (03) 9372 1688 or email ata@austrainers.com.au should Members require further assistance.
