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Department of Premier and Cabinet

State Service Accumulated Leave Scheme

The Tasmanian Government is committed to the establishment of a flexible workplace. This commitment includes implementing work arrangements that help employees balance family and work responsibilities.

Many people can work full-time most of the time but want to take extra periods of time off in the near or long-term future to look after children or elderly relatives, for further study or for travel.

The State Service Accumulated Leave Scheme (SSALS) offers State Service employees a range of flexible work and leave options.

What is the SSALS?

The State Service Accumulated Leave Scheme (SSALS) is a new form of work arrangement where you work full-time over an agreed period but are paid a proportion of your normal salary.

This allows you to bank extra hours that you take as accumulated leave while receiving the same proportional salary.

The basic structure of any SSALS Plan is always the same: a full-time work period followed by accumulated leave. However there is flexibility in the choice of the time frame of the Plan, the proportion of full-time work and thus the relevant pay rate that can be calculated using the following formula:

(Work period ÷ (Work period + period of extended leave)) x 100% = Percentage of normal salary

State Service Accumulated Leave Scheme Calculator

Please note: this calculator is for demonstration purposes only. Please consult your Human Resource section for accurate calculations.

Examples

Tony can work full-time but wants to take the Christmas holidays off to spend time with his kids. After initial discussions with his supervisor, he applies for a '40 over 52' SSALS Plan where he will work 40 weeks full-time and take 12 weeks accumulated leave. For the whole year John will receive 76.9% (40/52 x 100%) of his normal full-time salary. He gets to spend time with the kids and has enough money coming in during the leave period to cover all those summer holiday expenses. John also accumulates recreation leave throughout the Plan which can be taken during the year or later.

Sarah wants to improve her qualifications with a second degree. She can study and still work full-time but will need to take four weeks off at the end of each semester for assignments and exams. She discusses this work pattern with her supervisor and signs up for a '10 over 14' SSALS Plan. Each semester she works ten weeks full-time and takes four weeks of accumulated leave. Sarah is paid 71.4% (10/14 x 100%) of her normal full-time salary and still accumulates recreation leave throughout the Plan. The SSALS is a very flexible work arrangement. Sarah could also apply for study leave for the first two years and work a '2 over 3' Plan. Then she could accumulate enough leave for the final year of her degree.

Ian wants to take a year off in three years time to look after his baby daughter when his wife returns to work. He chooses the '3 over 4' year SSALS Plan. He works full-time for three years at 75% (3/4 x 100%) of his normal salary and then takes one year of accumulated leave. He still receives the same 75% of his normal salary during the year of accumulated leave and has also accumulated recreation leave throughout the Plan. Next year she goes to school!

What's in it for me?

Pros

Cons

  • Extended leave when you need it most
  • Less money coming in
  • Juggle work and personal/family responsibilities effectively
  • Disruption to your usual work patterns
  • Flexibility to make long term and short term life plans
  • Election approval depends on work needs
  • Join different schemes in different circumstances
  • Entitlements including superannuation will be at the agreed rate

Who can use the SSALS?

All State Service employees can elect to participate in a SSALS Plan. Approval is granted by your Head of Agency and depends on work requirements and staffing needs. Talk to your supervisor about the sorts of SSALS options that are available in your workplace.

If your election is approved you will have that approval in writing on a document which states the period when you will work full-time, the amount of leave you will accumulate, and the rate of pay you will receive.

The SSALS Plan PDF icon(PDF, 20KB)
Election forms PDF icon(PDF, 11.5KB)

 

How do I know how much leave I have accrued?

Your employer will keep a record that shows the exact amount of leave accumulated by each participating employee.

What happens to my pay?

During the work period of your agreed Plan you will be paid fortnightly as usual (although at the percentage of your hours worked as agreed in the Plan). During the leave period you can be paid fortnightly at the same rate or in a lump sum.

What about my leave entitlements?

Recreation leave accrues during the Plan and can be taken in the work period of the Plan or after the leave period.

You still get personal leave all the way through the Plan so if you get sick during your leave period you can apply for extra leave days as compensation in the same way as normal annual leave.

The Plan is continued during Parental Leave but the accumulated leave part of the Plan will have unpaid elements.

If the employee is absent on Long Service Leave during the work period of the Plan, the Plan is not deferred and salary payments continue to be paid in accordance with the Plan.

Other leave such as Defence Force leave, Jury Service leave or Leave in lieu of overtime accrues in proportion to the Plan chosen but can not be accessed during the leave period.

What happens to my usual pay deductions?

Compulsory and voluntary deductions will also be deducted as normal during the work and leave periods of the Plan.

What happens to my superannuation?

Your superannuation entitlements will accrue throughout the work period of the Plan and the continuity of your employment will not be affected by the leave period. It is your responsibility to get any personal superannuation advice from the Retirement Benefits Fund Board or from your own superannuation adviser.

What happens regarding salary progression?

You will still be eligible for salary progression and will be paid at the relevant proportional salary rate.

What if I am injured or become ill due to work while I am on the Plan?

Absence on workers compensation during the Plan period is regarded as a suspension of the Plan. If you  are incapacitated by a work related injury or illness and which is accepted as workers compensation, you will be entitled to weekly payments based on your normal salary.

What if I am promoted or transferred to another job?

You will need to reach agreement with the Head of Agency in the new job on whether you are able to continue in the SSALS Plan. This will depend on the operational requirements of the Agency. If you can continue in the scheme, the accumulated leave and pay will be transferred to your new Agency. If you aren't able to continue in the scheme you will still be able to take any leave you have accumulated at a time convenient to you and your Agency.

Can I withdraw from the Plan?

Your Head of Agency has a discretion whether or not to allow you to withdraw from the Plan, which will be exercised having regard to the operational requirements of the Agency. If you are allowed to withdraw you will be able to take the amount of leave that you have already accumulated at a time approved by the Head of Agency.

What happens if I cease state service employment during the Plan?

Any outstanding leave entitlements including leave accrued under the Plan’s arrangements will be paid out.

If the Plan worked for me, can I sign up again?

You can apply again anytime and sign up as long as your application is approved.

How do I find out more?

The SSALS Plan PDF icon(PDF, 20KB)
Election forms PDF icon(PDF, 11.5KB)

Contact your Agency for more information.

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