Paid special occasion leave – when is an employee entitled to paid leave?

Under many collective agreements, employees are entitled to paid leave on occasions such as their 50th or 60th birthday, their wedding day or the funeral of a close relative.

The right to paid special occasion leave is usually based on a collective agreement, but in some workplaces it may also be based on a local agreement or the employer’s policy. Check what your collective agreement stipulates regarding paid special occasion leave and the conditions attached to it.

The provisions of collective agreements vary by sector. Paid leave may be granted, for example, on the occasion of an employee’s:

  • 50th and 60th birthdays
  • wedding day or the day on which their civil partnership is registered
  • the funeral of certain close relatives or a day spent making funeral arrangements.

The timing of the leave is also determined by the collective agreement. In some sectors, the leave is taken on the actual anniversary date, whilst in others it may be taken on the working day closest to the anniversary date. If the day falls during annual leave or on another day off, the entitlement to paid leave is determined by the provisions of the Collective agreement.

Don’t forget to check

  • Is a paid day off covered by the collective agreement for your sector?
  • Is the paid day off at your workplace based on a local agreement or your employer’s policy?
  • Is the day off granted on the actual anniversary date or on the working day closest to it?
  • Do you need to give your employer advance notice to take the day off?

You can check the collective agreement applicable at your workplace to see which days are paid days off and under what conditions time off is granted. If your workplace does not follow a collective agreement, public holidays are not usually paid days off unless this has been specifically agreed with your employer.

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If you are unsure which collective agreement applies at your workplace or what practices are followed there, you can ask your shop steward or contact Pro’s Work Life Counselling.

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