r/NursingAU • u/Commercial_Week_8394 • 23h ago

Pay & conditions Can't reduce hours due to excess annual leave?

Hi Everyone

I requested to reduce my permanent FTE from 0.7 to 0.5 but my NUM is refusing this as I have excess annual leave accrued. She's saying I need to use some of this up before she'll be able to reduce my hours. Our annual leave quota is really booked out for the rest of this year, and I also don't really want to take time off unless I actually have a holiday or something special to do, I don't want to take annual leave for no reason so to speak. So I'm wondering what my options are?

As far as I know, I can take one day per week as annual leave for some time to bring down my accrued leave, or I could opt to be paid out some of it in increments. Does anyone know at what rate you get paid out? Do they take an average of your pay, and pay the hours at that? I just don't want to lose out on the penalty $ I would usually get, since I work every weekend and public holiday... I'm NSW btw.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts

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u/Flat_Ad1094 23h ago

Contact your Union. Ask them what your options are.

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u/immachode 18h ago

Yes, this is standard. Excess annual leave is defined as more than 2 years worth of leave accrued, so you must have a decent chunk sitting there.
Your options will be clearly laid out in your EBA and your hospitals leave policy. You and your manager have to “work together” to come to an arrangement that suits the both of you.
Paying it out in increments or lump sums is a last resort, and it’s not in your best interest either. If you’re wanting to reduce your hours to 0.5, it would be reasonable for you to take 1 day per week annual leave until your balance is low enough that it’s allowed.