One of my favourite things to say to clients when they start employing staff:

“Do you know you pay them for 8 weeks a year to do nothing”

I do like a little shock therapy for my clients. Most are confused and unsure if I’m telling a bad joke.  Unfortunately this bad joke is true.  Yes you pay your staff 8 weeks a year to do nothing.

It always feels a little different when you are on the other side of this relationship.  It’s great getting paid to do nothing.  But it’s not paying people to do nothing.

However as an employer, you will pay your staff 4 weeks annual leave, the minimum employment standards providing for 10 days personal leave (sick leave).  In NSW we have 9 public holidays.  That is a total of 39 business days or one day short of 8 weeks.  This is for full time employees only.

This does not include Long Service Leave, which is more paid time to do nothing for employees.   

These are just the rules, as an employer you should be aware of them.