Member Newsletter: Winter 2024

LeavePlus Loop Newsletter

Made For Members

LeavePlus is proud to support members of the Victorian construction industry to take their well-earned break using their portable long service leave. You work in a demanding industry, so you're not just going to want a break, you're going to need one. Portable long service leave means you can take your leave with you and make use of that benefit when you need it most. This benefits you, your employer, and the industry as a whole with a workforce that's ready to go again after taking time out to recharge.

LeavePlus Loop Newsletter

Made For Members

Long service leave is taxable income

You asked:

How does tax apply to my long service leave benefit payment?

We answered:

A long service leave benefit payment is classed as ordinary income and is considered salary and wages. This means that when it is paid to you, tax is withheld and remitted to the Australian Tax Office (ATO). Your benefit payment will be deposited into your nominated bank account in one transaction, subject to tax being withheld (calculated at a weekly equivalent, rather than on the whole amount).

When completing a Long Service Leave claim application form, you must answer the ‘Tax-Free Threshold’ section of the claim form. Select either Yes or No to claiming the tax-free threshold on your payment. LeavePlus cannot provide advice on whether an individual is eligible to claim a tax-free threshold.

For more information about claiming the tax-free threshold, please visit the Australian Tax Office’s website at www.ato.gov.au

Service with interstate schemes

You asked:

Am I able to transfer service to LeavePlus that I have built up with a portable long service leave scheme in another state?

We answered:

If you’re in a construction role interstate, you will need contact us to ensure your LeavePlus service record doesn’t become inactive. Each state has their own separate scheme with different rules and regulations – service accrued in a different state cannot be transferred to LeavePlus.

However, all applicable service recorded with our interstate counterparts is recognised by LeavePlus via the National Reciprocal Agreement. A long service leave entitlement from outside of Victoria can be redeemed when you apply to claim a long service leave benefit with LeavePlus. Simply include your interstate scheme member number(s) when completing your application in the LeavePlus member portal.

Accessing your long service leave

You asked:

When can I access my portable long service leave?

We answered:

You can apply to claim a long service leave benefit once you have built up a total of seven years of continuous service with LeavePlus. Service built up with any of our interstate partner Schemes can be used along with the service you have built up with LeavePlus.

You must claim your long service leave entitlement through the state or territory in which your most recent 55 days of service have been recorded.

If you have worked for the same employer for seven or more years, but have only performed covered work for part of that time, you still qualify for Long Service Leave. LeavePlus will pay the entitlement accrued based on the portion of work performed that was construction work.

Member Feedback Driving Improvements

At LeavePlus we truly value feedback from our members on how we are delivering our products and services. While it’s obviously great to hear positive feedback, it’s even more important to gain insights from our members around some of their less-positive experiences and areas which require improvement. As part of our business transformation project, we have been focusing on addressing the major friction points for our members as the highest priority.

In the coming months, members can expect to see some changes around how they interact with LeavePlus. We will be installing process and technology improvements across our member-facing systems, starting with the claim application form, login flow, and your member profile page.

Claim Application Form

Improvements in the claim application form aim to address two high priorities for our members – efficiency and transparency.

The application form itself will be simpler and easier to complete, clearly guiding members through every stage of the process in easy-to-follow language. Worker members will also have clearer instructions on what to provide in the application and clarity around payment time frames.

Improving Login Experience

We are looking at ways to incorporate new functionality that will empower members with even more self-service options.

Convenience and increased security measures are key considerations when it comes to setting up your online access, logging in to the member portal, and resetting your password.

Upgrading Member Profiles

We are also looking at different ways of structuring LeavePlus member profiles for both workers and employers. The aim is to increase self-service options and better connect data points provided by employers about their workers. Having accurate and up to date information about you and the work you do makes claiming your long service leave entitlement quicker and more efficient.

Offsite Precast Work Covered From 1 July 2024

From time to time LeavePlus has the opportunity to welcome different types of trade work into the construction industry long service leave scheme. Sometimes this comes in the form of completely new additions to the trades covered by the scheme. In other cases it’s about expanding the breadth of coverage for trade types which may already be part of the scheme rules.

From 1 July 2024, all classes of trades, plant operator and labour work associated with the offsite construction, production, erection, or installation of precast concrete elements for construction projects (offsite precast work) will be covered by the portable long service leave scheme administered by LeavePlus.

This change will bring offsite precast work into line with onsite precast work which is already covered by the LeavePlus scheme.

Offsite Switchboard Work Covered From 1 July 2024

From time to time LeavePlus has the opportunity to welcome different types of trade work into the construction industry long service leave scheme. Sometimes this comes in the form of completely new additions to the trades covered by the scheme, and other times it centres more around expanding the breadth of coverage for trade types which may already be part of the scheme rules.

From 1 July 2024, all classes of trades, plant operator and labour work associated with the electrical assembly of switchboards (switchboard work) will be covered by the portable long service leave scheme administered by LeavePlus. This change brings switchboard work in line with other Electrical Services work which has been covered by the LeavePlus scheme since 1998. It also brings offsite work into line with onsite work, with onsite assembly of electrical switchboards also covered by the scheme since 1998.

Offsite Switchboard Work Covered From 1 July 2024

From 1 July 2024, all classes of trades, plant operator and labour work associated with the electrical assembly of switchboards in a workshop (switchboard work) will be covered by LeavePlus.

This change brings switchboard work in line with other Electrical Services work which has been covered by the LeavePlus scheme since 1998.

It also brings offsite work into line with onsite work, with onsite assembly of electrical switchboards also covered by the scheme since 1998.

Offsite Precast Work Covered From 1 July 2024

This change will bring offsite precast work into line with onsite precast work which is already covered by the LeavePlus scheme.

Mount Buller

Arguably Victoria's most accessible destination for skiing and snowboarding, Mount Buller lies around 210km from Melbourne. A 3-hour drive from the state's capital, Mount Buller Village boasts 7,000 beds available in accommodation, making it Victoria's largest capacity alpine resort.

The resort has a 'snow guarantee' to give you peace of mind when booking, aided by its five 'snow factory' machines littered around the slopes, each capable of producing up to 200 cubic metres of snow per day!

Mount Hotham

The jewel in the crown of Victoria's alpine region, Mount Hotham is generally considered to be the state's premier snow holiday destination. While it takes substantially more effort to reach than Mount Buller, at around 5 and a half hours' drive from Melbourne; Mount Hotham offers more advanced runs and slopes to truly satisfy the more seasoned snow seeker.

With the idyllic alpine village of Bright in relatively close proximity, a weekend at the snow can easily turn into an extended stay, with no shortage of winter events and festivities for the whole family to enjoy.

Lake Mountain

Uluru

For those with a keen sense of adventure seeking a uniquely Australian experience, winter is the perfect time to tick Uluru off of your travel bucket list!

Temperatures range between 20 and 30 degrees in the winter days - though wrap up warm for those cold nights as the temperature drops significantly after sunset. There is also less chance of rain in winter, making the area easier to explore.

Those clearer winter skies also have the added benefit of creating the best conditions for stunning sunsets and sunrises to perfectly frame the red centre's most iconic natural wonder.

Nusa Penida

Bali has long been a popular winter getaway for Victorians looking to escape the icy chill of the colder months. Bali takes a lot of the limelight and attracts a huge amount of tourism, but its smaller neighbour of Nusa Penida is something of a hidden gem in the region and well worth exploring.

Nusa Penida is renowned for its iconic coastal terrain, pristine beaches, and crystal-clear water. The island is less developed than its notorious neighbour Bali and offers a more relaxed tropical paradise experience. At only a 40-minute boat ride away from many of Bali's popular ports, you can choose to make your visit to Nusa Penida a day trip, weekend away, or even make it your holiday base for the winter.

Istanbul

Want to enjoy the summer sun and take in some city culture, but can't decide whether to visit Europe or Asia this winter? At the historic intersection of east and west, you can do both in Türkiye's iconic city on the Bosphorus.

Istanbul is the unofficial crossroads of Europe and Asia and is a rich melting pot of iconic empires, ancient traditions, and modern culture. The European side of Istanbul houses ancient landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace. While the Asian side (Anatolia) offers a glimpse into Istanbul’s more serene and residential life. Less frequented by tourists, it features charming neighbourhoods like Kadıköy and Üsküdar, lush green spaces, and panoramic views from Çamlıca Hill.

Feature Focus

New Partnerships Improving Compliance

LeavePlus has recently partnered with the Fair Jobs Code Unit (FJCU) in a move that will ensure greater compliance across the construction industry in Victoria. The FJCU is an administrative group within the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions with responsibilities in relation to the Fair Jobs Code.

The Fair Jobs Code promotes employment standards for suppliers and businesses that compete for high value government contracts and grants. It enables government to use its purchasing power to drive compliance with industrial relations and occupational health and safety laws and to promote fair working conditions, including secure work and supply-chain compliance. Under the Code, suppliers and businesses seeking to be considered for Victorian Government procurement contracts must hold a pre-assessment certificate.

Under our partnership, we have provided the FJCU with access to our compliance checker tool. This tool enables the FJCU to reinforce their due diligence checks and determine whether a construction industry employer is registered with LeavePlus. These checks are done on employers seeking to get a pre-assessment certificate to be eligible to do government work.

The Victorian Government recently announced upcoming changes to the Fair Jobs Code by lowering the requirement to hold a pre-assessment certificate from $3 million for direct contracts and $10 million for subcontracts to $1 million (exclusive of GST) for all contracts.

This means that from 1 September 2024 the Fair Jobs Code pre-assessment certificate is mandatory for all tender and procurement contracts valued at $1 million or above with the Victorian Government.

We have already identified a number of unregistered employers through this process, and there is likely to be a notable increase in applications for pre-assessment certificates going forward. This means an even greater number of employers being cross-checked against their compliance with LeavePlus which is a positive for both the long service leave scheme and the Fair Jobs Code.

Just as with a pre-assessment certificate from the FJCU, an employer’s membership with LeavePlus is an important badge of compliance. It signals their commitment to your wellbeing and shows that they are supporting the vitality of the construction industry in Victoria. At LeavePlus we know that compliant employers should be able to attract the best workers, and that any employers who are flouting the rules are dealt with accordingly.

In partnering with fellow industry regulators and completing relevant compliance checks, LeavePlus is helping to make sure that businesses and their workers can continue to thrive and that non-compliant employers are not able to gain any competitive advantage in tender processes by neglecting their long service leave obligations.

Contact the Fair Jobs Code Unit at fairjobscode@ecodev.vic.gov.au or visit their website to learn more about applying for a pre-assessment certificate.

CoINVEST Limited as Trustee for the Construction Industry Long Service Leave Fund (trading as LeavePlus) ABN: 35 078 004 985.

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LeavePlus acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Member Newsletter: Winter 2024

LeavePlus Loop

Member Newsletter: Winter 2024

LeavePlus Loop

LeavePlus Loop Newsletter

Made For Members

LeavePlus Loop Newsletter

Made For Members

Checked your service lately?

Checked your service lately?

Your Questions Answered

Long service leave is taxable income

Service with interstate schemes

Accessing your long service leave

Member Feedback Driving Improvements

Offsite Precast Work Covered From 1 July 2024

Offsite Switchboard Work Covered From 1 July 2024

Offsite Switchboard Work Covered From 1 July 2024

Offsite Precast Work Covered From 1 July 2024

Best of both worlds in winter

Best of both worlds in winter

Mount Buller

Mount Hotham

Lake Mountain

Uluru

Nusa Penida

Istanbul

Feature Focus

New Partnerships Improving Compliance

This means that from 1 September 2024 the Fair Jobs Code pre-assessment certificate is mandatory for all tender and procurement contracts valued at $1 million or above with the Victorian Government.

Want to see more from us?