ANNUAL LEAVE
Employees shall be entitled to 1.25 days of annual leave for each completed month in the employer’s service.
1.2 Leave Request Procedure
Employees must submit any request for annual leave at least two weeks before the first day of leave. All requests must be made via SimplePay and will be responded to within the platform, indicating whether the leave is granted or refused. Employees need to ensure liaison with their team happens regarding their desired time off and state in the application that their team has been made aware and agrees with leave being taken in the specified time.
1.3 Accrual and Forfeiture of Annual Leave
Employees can only accrue annual leave during their current and immediate preceding leave cycle. Any annual leave entitlement accrued but not taken within 6 months following the leave cycle shall be forfeited. This forfeiture will not apply if the employer refuses to grant leave due to exceptional operational requirements.
1.4 Mandatory Leave
Employees are obligated to take leave during any business closure period between the 25th of December and the 1st of January. Leave taken will be deducted from annual leave.
1.5 Termination of Employment
Upon termination of employment, employees will be entitled to payment for any accrued but unused annual leave. This provision applies only if the employee has been in the employer’s service for 4 months or longer.
1.6 Birthday Leave
Employees are entitled to 1 day of paid leave on their birthday during every annual leave cycle, provided their birthday falls on a typical working day. The employee acknowledges that the leave day granted under this clause may not be exchanged for any other day. Failure to take birthday leave in accordance with this clause will result in the forfeiture of the leave day.
SICK LEAVE POLICY
2.1. Entitlement
During each sick leave cycle of 36 months’ employment, employees are entitled to an amount of paid sick leave equal to the number of days they would usually work during a period of 6 weeks. In the first 6 months of employment, employees are entitled to 1 day of paid sick leave for every 26 days worked.
2.2. Conditions for Sick Leave
Paid sick leave is not applicable for absences exceeding 2 consecutive days or occurring on more than 2 occasions during an 8-week period unless supported by a signed medical certificate. In case of suspected abuse, the employer may require the employee to produce a signed medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner based on a personal examination. The employer reserves the right to request a second medical opinion if reasonable grounds for suspicion exist.
2.3. Reporting and Communication
Employees must personally inform the employer before 07:00 am on the day of absence and provide the expected return date. The employer must be informed of an address where the employee can be found. Submission of a signed medical certificate is compulsory for sick leave taken on a Monday or Friday or preceding a public holiday.
MATERNITY, ADOPTION, AND COMMISSIONING PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY
3.1 Maternity Leave
3.1.1 Entitlement
Employees are entitled to 4 consecutive months of maternity leave, starting 4 weeks before the expected date of birth. Notification of the commencement and return date of maternity leave must be provided at least 4 weeks in advance. The employee may not work for 6 weeks after childbirth unless certified fit by a medical practitioner or midwife.
3.2 Adoption and Commissioning Parental Leave
3.2.1 Entitlement
Adoptive parents of a child below 2 years are entitled to 10 consecutive weeks of adoption leave. Commissioning parents in a surrogate motherhood agreement are entitled to 10 consecutive weeks of commissioning parental leave. Notification of the commencement and return dates must be given at least one month in advance.
3.3. Failure to Return
Failure to return to work after maternity, adoption, or commissioning parental leave on the specified or agreed return date without a valid reason may lead to termination.
3.4. Remuneration During Maternity Leave
Employees will not be entitled to remuneration during maternity, adoption, or commissioning parental leave.
Family Responsibility Leave and Parental Leave Policy:
FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY LEAVE
4.1 Entitlement
Employees with at least 4 months of service and working at least 4 days a week are entitled to 3 days of paid family responsibility leave during each 12-month cycle. This leave is granted for the illness of a child or in the event of the death of specified family members. Notification of absence and proof of circumstances may be required.
4.2 Parental Leave
Parents are entitled to at least 10 consecutive days of parental leave. Parental leave can commence on the day the child is born or the day the adoption order is granted. Employees must notify the employer in writing of the commencement and return dates at least one month in advance. No remuneration is provided during parental leave, but paternity benefits can be claimed under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001 provisions.
4.3 Unused Leave
Unused family responsibility leave will lapse at the end of each 12-month cycle.
GENERAL
All leave, including annual leave, is subject to the employer’s approval based on operational requirements. The employer reserves the right to refuse leave requests in exceptional circumstances and will provide written reasons for such refusals.