Personal/carer's leave

The National Employment Standards (NES) contain entitlements for paid personal/carer's leave, paid and unpaid compassionate leave, and unpaid carer's leave. These forms of leave are designed to help an employee with an illness or injury, caring responsibilities, family emergencies or the death or serious illness of a close family member or someone the employee lives with.

The NES does not place a limit on the amount of personal/carer’s leave that can be taken each year. It accrues progressively during a year of service according to the employee’s ordinary hours of work and accumulates from year to year.

When taking leave, an employee must give notice to the employer as soon as practicable, and if required by the employer must provide evidence “that would satisfy a reasonable person”.