Leave Guidelines
It’s important to take leave as a way of recharging the batteries, however annual leave is only one of the many entitlements you have. Take a look through the Leave Guidelines document for more information.
Leave Guidelines - 353 KB
Leave Application Form
Preparing for Leave
Preparing for leave is an exciting time, however it can be stressful ensuring you are organised, up to date and ready to conduct a handover. Prior to going on leave, it is important that you take a moment to action the items that will enable your business unit and any colleagues acting in your role to effectively cover your duties in your absence.
This includes making arrangements to ensure the appropriate colleagues have ‘delegated’ access to your systems. This eliminates the need for you to disclose your computer password to anyone and will ensure that you or your colleagues do not breach council policy as a result of sharing your password.
Read more information about leave checklist and leave workflow below.
To assist you in preparing for leave and to make it easier upon your return, Organisational Development have compiled a checklist.
Preparing for Leave Checklist - 345.5KB
The document includes instructions on how you can grant a colleague access to your emails without disclosing your password and how you can redirect system authorisations in your absence.
If you have any questions regarding your preparation for leave, please contact Payroll at payroll.inbox@cgd.vic.gov.au or the IT Helpdesk on 8571 5102.
Use the Objective program Preparing for Leave Workflow to delegate access to the systems you use before you go on leave. Once you have clicked on this link, you will need to select 'run workflow'. You should then receive a confirmation email and follow the steps on this email to continue.
Expecting Parents Information
Firstly, congratulations! It’s an exciting time when you’re expecting. We’ve attached an information kit to help you work out exactly what you’re entitled to.
New Parent Information Kit - 489KB
Keep in Touch Options (for extended leave)
What is it?
Council’s ‘Keep in Touch’ options will help staff members who are on extended leave keep up to date with news from their department and Council. It also helps you remain aware of developments and any changes that might affect your role when you return.
We recommend anyone taking leave of 3 months or more should take advantage of this, but it is entirely voluntary.
Keep-in-Touch Options - 144 KB
How it works?
Before starting your extended leave, you will be asked if and how you would like Council to keep in touch with you. If this is not possible before you leave, then it is intended that you will be contacted to discuss your preference.
We recommend that you read the ‘Keep in Touch’ Guide above for more information.
Online portal
We have an online portal that allows staff on extended leave to access documents, policies and read the latest Source News each week. Have a look through the instructions below to help you navigate the system.
Keep in Touch Online
Instructions for online portal - 582.3KB
Access to Council's Employee Assistance Program whilst on extended leave
If you are on extended leave, you can continue to receive support from Council’s Employee Assistance Program provider, which is currently Converge International.
Employee Assistance Program
For a confidential appointment at no cost, call 1300 687 327 any time day or night.
Paid Tea Breaks
In accordance with the Greater Dandenong City Council Enterprise Agreement (EBA) paid (Tea) breaks for:
- Band 1-5 employees defined as Physical and Community Services (commonly referred to as Outdoor workers); and
- Employees defined as Other than Physical and Community Services (commonly referred to Indoor workers);
are set out in two sections (please see below for definitions)
Outdoor Workers
Paid (Tea) breaks for Band 1-5 Outdoor workers are set out in Clause 35 of Part B of the Greater Dandenong City Council Enterprise Agreement (EBA).
Essentially full time Outdoor workers are able to access a single break of 20 minutes duration taken either in the morning or afternoon of each day.
Alternatively the single 20 minute break may be split in half with a single break taken at appropriate times in both the morning and afternoon of each day providing the cumulative total of these two breaks does not exceed 20 minutes.
The timing and nature of paid (Tea) breaks within particular workgroups may already have been established by custom and practice and these will be maintained wherever appropriate. These arrangements can however be varied by mutual agreement with the supervisor or manager, providing these changes do not impact upon service delivery or operational requirements.
Further, where part time or casual Band 1-5 Outdoor workers work across periods where their full time counterparts take a paid (Tea) break, they will be entitled to take the same paid (Tea) break.
Outdoor workers who are classified at Band 6 or above should refer to the provisions for Indoor workers outlined below.
Indoor Workers
Indoor workers do not have designated paid (Tea) breaks specified within the EBA.
Accordingly, Indoor workers are to access tea/coffee making facilities within Council office locations across the municipality at suitable times throughout the day without interruption to normal work patterns, service delivery or operational needs.
There are no limits to the frequency of obtaining tea/coffee from these facilities throughout the working day, provided that work patterns, service delivery or operational requirements are not unduly affected by the timing of these activities.
Lunch Breaks
In accordance with the Greater Dandenong City Council Enterprise Agreement 2018 (EBA) lunch break duration and times for employees are established at commencement of employment to suit the needs of the business unit and the individual. The EBA allows for flexibility in regard to the duration and times of the break and therefore, if circumstances change during the course of employment the lunch break may be updated from time to time by mutual agreement.
Please see below for more information.
Standard Engagement
Under Clause 33.1 of Part B of the EBA, Standard Engagement full time employees are entitled to take a lunch break between noon and 2pm of not less than 45 minutes and no more than 1 hour. By mutual agreement however the lunch break may be reduced to a break of no less than 30 minutes.
Some examples of Lunch break durations and times for Standard Engagement employees are set out in the table below. These include noting the impact of RDO arrangements upon starting / finishing times for each employee.
A common example cited within the full time Standard Engagement terms and conditions of employment is: 8.15am - [40 min lunch break] - 5.21pm [8.44 hours worked = Fortnightly RDO]
Library Employees (specific conditions)
Clause 33.9 of Part B of the EBA outlines that Library employees have some specific conditions of employment and so full-time employees may take a Meal break of not less than 45 minutes between noon and 2pm or 5pm and 7pm, where the span of their shift covers these periods.
Other Staff on Specific Engagement Conditions
Please contact organisationaldevelopment@cgd.vic.gov.au to discuss the hours of work and the timing of Meal (Lunch) breaks for employees working in areas of Council covered by Specific Engagement conditions.
