By
Graham Howatt, ArFFA
Members
and followers of the federation’s activities would be well
aware of our stance in regard to the lapsing of accrued recreation
leave, which is that no-one should forfeit or have their leave
credits lapsed where it has been beyond their control to clear
accumulated leave.
The current leave policy provides for the accumulation of
leave for three consecutive leave years before it would be
lapsed.
In exceptional circumstances, the Service Chiefs have been
delegated the CDF’s authority to extend accumulation of recreation
leave into a fourth year before it would be lapsed or forfeited.
The federation last discussed this very emotional and sensitive
issue with the CDF on June 16.
We again stressed our position that ADF members should not
be disadvantaged financially by having their leave lapsed,
particularly with the current and predicted state of such
high operational tempo.
Rather than having leave lapse, it would be more palatable
for the federation and affected members to have the leave
in question “cashed out”.
CDF advised at that time that he was considering such an option
as a “one off” opportunity for affected members and was also
investigating the introduction of incentive schemes to encourage
members to reduce accumulated leave credits.
Details of the schemes were not discussed but the federation’s
support for the introduction of such initiatives was quite
clear.
This is not to suggest the federation believes members should
have the right to cash out annual recreation leave at will.
We fully recognise that the wellbeing of all is best served
by regular periods of quality recreation leave away from the
workplace.
That
said, the federation is pleased to note the intervention of
the CDF on this issue by announcing a waiver to the current
leave policy in order for ADF members who had leave lapsed
at the end of the last leave year to have it reinstated.
ADF
Leave and Long Service Leave Policy are just two of many conditions
of service policy issues that are listed on the Agenda for
this year’s ArFFA/DPE Workshop scheduled for two days in Canberra
(Queanbeyan) on October 22 and 23.
ADF members who will be in the region during that time are
welcome to attend and observ.
