Paid leave for school carnivals, sick pets, weddings and life admin on list of benefits offered by University

Staff at the University of Newcastle will be able to take up to ten days a year of paid leave to care for pets, go to school concerts, manage their life admin and attend weddings and other ceremonies, under the Enterprise Agreements being voted on this week.

Head of the institution, Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky has encouraged staff to consider the benefits for their personal lives and to compare their benefits to those in the broader community.

“We know the benefits our staff currently enjoy are already far above and beyond what most people in private industry and in public service roles have. But we always want to do more to make sure we attract and retain the best and the brightest,” Professor Zelinsky said.

“Despite the tough financial times we’re weathering, we are offering a 9.5% pay increase over three years, plus six additional days off as annual leave, plus ten days that used to be for sick leave now being able to be used for a whole range of life events.”

Staff at the University currently get 25 days of paid personal and carers leave each year, with 15 of those days carrying over if they’re unused. For the 10 days that are not recurring, the University has proposed expanding the reasons for using the leave to cover anything considered a ‘life event’.

“I’ve told staff they can use these days for celebrating a birthday, going to a school sports carnival, general life admin, caring for sick pets, special religious or cultural events, spending a day exercising or reenergising and so much more,” Professor Zelinsky said.

“We know the definition is broad and that’s exactly the point.

“We want staff to know that they can ask for one of these days and the answer will be ‘yes’. They won’t need to provide a reason for taking the leave unless they want to take more than three days at a time – in which case their manager will need to approve.

“We’re pretty much opening up these days to allow staff to choose how they want to manage them.

“We’re constrained with the financial benefits we can offer in terms of a pay rise so we’re supplementing the 9.5% pay rise with more benefits outside of pay.”

Staff at the University of Newcastle will vote on one of two agreements this week, depending on whether they are academics or support/professional staff:

University of Newcastle Professional Staff Enterprise Agreement 2022; and

University of Newcastle Academic Staff and Teachers Enterprise Agreement 2022.

The new agreements will provide a range of new benefits and maintain or enhance many existing entitlements. This includes:

• 9.5% salary increase, composed of:
  • 3.5% salary increase backdated to October 2022.
  • 3% salary increase payable in October 2023.
  • 3% salary increase payable in October 2024.
• 17% employer superannuation contribution for casual staff (increased from the current 10.5%).
• Up to 10 paid University holidays each year (increased from 4).
• 10 days of Life Leave every year which will allow more flexible use of leave for a wider range of life events.
• 10 days of paid leave for gender affirmation.

The ballot will open at 7am on Tuesday 13 December and close at 6pm on Thursday 15 December. A result will be shared with staff on Friday.

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