ANZ extends annual leave for loyal employees

Shorter working weeks and more annual leave are a pipe dream for most hard-working employees.

But while such innovations tease the prospect of an improved work-life balance, the reality is still a long way off – unless you’re an employee with banking giant ANZ.  

ANZ have announced today a new initiative they’re calling ‘loyalty leave’, offering employees of three years or more an additional five days of annual leave.

 Paid leave found its way into Australian workplaces from 1935, starting at one-week and climbing to the standard four-weeks that full-time workers are now legally entitled to in 1974. It hasn’t seen an increase since then.  

ANZ Group Executive Kathryn van der Merwe said: “Many of our employees have told us that they want more flexibility to focus on what’s important outside work, and one way we’re giving them that is to provide more paid time off.

“Regular annual leave is essential as it allows our people to spend time doing what’s important to them personally, as well as to rest and recharge to ensure they are able to deliver great results for our customers.

“While we considered a number of potential enhancements to various employee benefits, annual leave is a ‘core’ benefit that is relevant to all permanent employees, regardless of seniority, gender, or status as a parent,” said Dr van der Merwe.