1. Purpose and Objectives

These procedures outline the conditions and process for applying for an Individual Flexibility Arrangement (IFA) to convert an entitlement to Recreation Leave Loading to Additional Recreation Leave (ARL) in accordance with the Enterprise Agreement.

2. Definitions, Terms, Acronyms

ARL - Additional Recreation Leave.

Authorised Officer - the officer authorised to exercise the relevant HR power or function in accordance with the HR Sub-delegations Instrument.

Enterprise Agreement - The University of Queensland Enterprise Agreement 2018 – 2021, or as amended or replaced.

IFA - Individual Flexibility Arrangement.

Recreation Leave - or otherwise referred to as Annual Leave in the Human Resources System (Workday).

VBT - Voluntary Banked Time.

3. Procedures Scope/Coverage

These procedures apply to all continuing, research (contingent funded) and fixed-term staff members covered by the Enterprise Agreement.

These procedures do not apply to casual staff members or those engaged to perform unpaid duties at the University.

4. Procedures Statement

A staff member may elect to convert their Recreation Leave Loading to ARL, subject to approval in accordance with these procedures.

5. Individual Flexibility Arrangement

The Enterprise Agreement provides for the University and an eligible staff member to enter into an IFA to permit a staff member to convert their entitlement to Recreation Leave Loading to a maximum of three days Additional Recreation Leave (ARL) per annum.

5.1 Eligibility

A staff member who has accrued in excess of six (6) weeks recreation leave will not be eligible to enter into an IFA to convert their Recreation Leave Loading to ARL.

A professional staff member (HEW Levels 1 - 7) who has accrued Flexi-time or VBT in excess of the maximum in accordance with the Attendance, Hours of Work and Overtime (Professional Staff) Procedure will not be eligible to enter into an IFA to convert their Recreation Leave Loading to ARL.

5.2 Conditions

Applications to enter into an IFA can be made in the period from 1 October to 31 October each year.

A staff member may elect for the IFA to apply for 12 months or for the life of the Enterprise Agreement.

A staff member who enters into an IFA will accrue 23 days recreation leave (pro-rata for part-time staff) per annum, after the IFA is made. Where a staff member is on a fixed-term contract for a period that is less than the accrual period, the ARL will be pro-rated.

Once the IFA is made, the staff member will not receive Recreation Leave Loading on Recreation Leave accrued during this period.

A professional staff member (HEW Levels 1 - 9) who enters into an IFA to convert their Recreation Leave Loading to ARL will forfeit their entitlement to Recreation Leave Loading for the period of the IFA.

An academic staff member or a senior professional staff member (HEW Level 10 and above) who enters into an IFA will not receive their Recreation Leave Loading payment for the accrual period (1 December - 30 November), which would usually be paid in early December.

The first three days of Recreation Leave taken by a staff member per annum is deemed to be ARL.

A staff member who enters into an IFA must take a minimum of three days Recreation Leave per year.

Where a staff member's employment with the University ceases and the staff member has not accessed their ARL, the University will pay to the staff member the balance of the ARL accrued during the accrual period.

A staff member or the University may terminate the IFA in accordance with the Enterprise Agreement.

Where an IFA is terminated part way through the accrual period, the employee will cease to accrue ARL from the date the termination is effected and any existing Recreation Leave accrued during the accrual period will be retained by the staff member.

Where a staff member‘s IFA is terminated in accordance with the Enterprise Agreement, the staff member will begin to accrue Recreation Leave Loading from the date the IFA is terminated.

6. Applying for an IFA

6.1 Staff member responsibilities

A staff member may make a request to the Authorised Officer to enter into an IFA using the IFA form. Where a staff member is under the age of 18 years, the form must be signed by a parent or guardian of the staff member.

6.2 Authorised Officer responsibilities

When considering applications for an IFA, consideration should be given to:

• Eligibility requirements for the IFA applied for; and
• Operational requirements.