Calls for drastic changes to be made to long service leave - allowing workers to enjoy three months off while still getting paid even if they change jobs
- A proposal for a national scheme would give all workers three months' paid leave
- An employee has to be in the same industry for ten years before they're eligible
- Calls come after Victoria introduced portable leave for certain industries
An employment relations expert has led growing calls for Australia's long service leave scheme to be overhauled.
A proposed national scheme would give all workers three months' paid leave after ten continuous years of service, regardless of whether they've changed jobs.
The calls come after Victoria introduced a portable long service leave for workers in the cleaning, community services and security sectors.
An employment relations expert has led growing calls for Australia's long service leave scheme to be overhauled (stock)
Workers must remain in the same industry for seven years to be eligible and follows the lead of the ACT, Queensland, and New South Wales for the cleaning sectors.
The nation's capital also has a portable long service leave in place for the community service and security sectors.
One in four Australians stay with the same employer for ten years or more, according to Macquarie University's employment relations Professor Ray Markey.
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He estimates one fifth have been with their employer for less than 12 months and almost a quarter of employees were in casual employment with no leave entitlements.
He sees the benefits of in a national uniform portable long service leave accessible to everyone across all sectors but believes it would be difficult to implement.
He also believes there would be backlash from employers.
A proposed national scheme would give all workers three months' paid leave after ten continuous years of service, regardless of whether they've changed jobs. Pictured: Macquarie University's employment relations Professor Ray Markey
Until now, senior development officer Ada Conroy has been ineligible for long service leave, despite working in the family violence sector for almost 20 years. Pictured wearing glasses
'There are some economic issues, but there are alternatives as to how the funds can be set up,' Professor Markey told the ABC.
'But no-one's seriously talked about that, and doing it piecemeal as the Victorians have done, they're doing it based on industry.
Until now, senior development officer Ada Conroy has been ineligible for long service leave, despite working in the family violence sector for almost 20 years.
'My counterparts in hospital and council and community health have had access to portable long service leave for a really long time but those of us in the community sector haven't,' she said.
She said it says something about the level of value place upon the work she does.
Ms Conroy believes the introduction of portable long service leave and said it would make a 'big difference' to those working in the sector — mostly women.
She said the lack of benefits says something about the level of value place upon the work she does
