Our annual leave hacks: best time to take a holiday in 2024
Everyone needs a break from work and with some preparation, you can maximise your annual leave in 2024 and more than double your paid time off.
We look at how to achieve the maximum possible downtime by taking advantage of public holidays and weekends. With these annual leave hacks for 2024, you’ll have more time to recharge and be ready to perform at your best when at work.
We look at how to achieve the maximum possible downtime by taking advantage of public holidays and weekends. With these annual leave hacks for 2024, you’ll have more time to recharge and be ready to perform at your best when at work.
H2: Annual leave and public holidays
Four weeks of paid annual leave is the standard offering for businesses in Australia, but it can feel like it disappears quickly. To extend the feeling of being on holidays, align the time your take off with weekends and public holidays. By strategically approaching your standard 20 days of annual leave, you’ll unlock more time off. What’s more, by cleverly positioning your annual leave dates adjacent to Australian public holidays, you’ll double your time off without resorting to having to take unpaid leave.
Here are some of the best dates to book time off in 2024.
Here are some of the best dates to book time off in 2024.
Maximise your annual leave 2024
Christmas 2023 and New Year’s 2024 – book three days and get 10
This year, Christmas day is on a Monday. The Boxing Day public holiday is on Tuesday, and the New Year’s Day public holiday falls on Monday, 1 January, 2024.
Book three days annual leave: Take three days’ annual leave on Wednesday, 27 December, Thursday, 28 December and Friday, 29 December before New Year's Eve.
Your 10-day break: You’ll enjoy a 10-day break, from Saturday, 23 December, 2023 through to Monday, 1 January, 2024.
Australia Day 24– book one day and get four
In 2024, the Australia Day public holiday falls on a Friday.
Book one day of annual leave: Take annual leave on Monday, 29 January.
Your four-day break: For one day of annual leave, you’ll enjoy a four-day break and extra-long weekend, from Friday, 26 January till, Monday, 29 January.
Book one day of annual leave: Take annual leave on Monday, 29 January.
Your four-day break: For one day of annual leave, you’ll enjoy a four-day break and extra-long weekend, from Friday, 26 January till, Monday, 29 January.
Easter 2024– book four days and get 10
In 2024, Good Friday falls on 29 March, with Easter Monday following on 1 April.
Book four days annual leave: Take annual leave from 2-5 April.
Your 10-day break: You’ll enjoy a 10-day break from Friday, 29 March through to Sunday, 7 April.
Your 10-day break: You’ll enjoy a 10-day break from Friday, 29 March through to Sunday, 7 April.
ANZAC Day 2024 – book four days and get nine
ANZAC Day takes place on 25 April, which in 2024 will fall on a Thursday.
Book four days annual leave: Book annual leave from 22-24 April as well as on Friday, 26 April.
Your nine-day break: This gives you a nine-day holiday from 20-28 April.
Book four days annual leave: Book annual leave from 22-24 April as well as on Friday, 26 April.
Your nine-day break: This gives you a nine-day holiday from 20-28 April.
Labour Day 2024 – book four days and get nine
Labour Day falls on different dates in individual states and territories. Check official announcements for all public holidays in your location.
Book four days annual leave and get a nine-day break: By taking four days of annual leave the week Labour Day falls in your state or territory, you'll benefit from a nine-day break.
Book four days annual leave and get a nine-day break: By taking four days of annual leave the week Labour Day falls in your state or territory, you'll benefit from a nine-day break.
King’s Birthday 2024 – book four days and get nine
In 2024 the King’s Birthday public holiday falls on the second Monday in June every year, with this year’s holiday landing on the 10 June in every state and territory except Queensland and Western Australia.
Book four days annual leave and get a nine-day break: Using the same strategy as we did for Labour Day, by booking your annual leave around the public holiday, you'll enjoy nine days off. Or you could use one day of leave on the previous Friday to have a four-day weekend.
Christmas 2024 and New Year’s 2025 – book five days and get 12
Christmas Day falls on a Wednesday in 2024 with the Boxing Day public holiday following on Thursday, 26 December. The New Year’s Day public holiday falls on Wednesday, 1 January 2025.
Book five days annual leave: Take two days’ annual leave from 23-24 December, on 27 December, and then from 30-31 December.
Your 12-day break: This will bring your total days off to 12, letting you enjoy an extended break over the summer, from Saturday, 21 December through your return to work on Thursday, 2 January.
Book five days annual leave: Take two days’ annual leave from 23-24 December, on 27 December, and then from 30-31 December.
Your 12-day break: This will bring your total days off to 12, letting you enjoy an extended break over the summer, from Saturday, 21 December through your return to work on Thursday, 2 January.
What annual leave am I entitled to and how much annual leave can I accrue?
Annual leave is a longstanding entitlement in Australian workplaces. In Australia, annual leave entitlements are part of Australia’s National Employment Standards.
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, full-time workers in Australia are due four weeks paid annual leave. Part-time employees receive the equivalent based on their hours of work. For example, if a part-time employee works two and a half days per week, they receive 10 days (half) annual leave.
In Australia, the first official annual leave entitlement dates back to 1906. It became more widespread under federal awards between the 1930s and 1970s and has been ingrained in Australian work culture ever since.
In Australia, the first official annual leave entitlement dates back to 1906. It became more widespread under federal awards between the 1930s and 1970s and has been ingrained in Australian work culture ever since.
Why take annual leave, exactly?
Many professionals tend to save up their annual leave. Perhaps you, too, have several days or weeks of annual leave accrued. But it’s important to remember that taking regular, consistent breaks throughout the year helps manage your overall stress levels and can mean you avoid succumbing to burnout.
The World Health Organisation recognises burnout as an ‘occupational phenomenon’. Burnout syndrome, it states, is the result of chronic workplace stress unsuccessfully managed. Symptoms include:
- Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
- Mental distance from work
- More negative feelings or cynicism regarding one’s job
- Decreased professional efficacy
It’s well-known that it takes anyone a couple of days to even start to unwind during holiday time. So maximising your annual leave can help avoid burnout. You can read more tips on how to avoid burnout here.
Your annual leave plan 2024
With the above annual leave plan in place, you’ll enjoy some proper downtime. No matter how you like to unwind, by making the most of your annual leave, the potential to rest, relax and reset looks very promising.
| Public Holiday | Book leave on these days | Number of total days off |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s 23/24 | 27-29 December | 10 |
| Australia Day | 29 January | 4 |
| Easter | 2-5 April | 10 |
| ANZAC Day | 22-24 April, 26 April | 9 |
| Labour Day | Tuesday - Friday | 9 |
| King’s Birthday | 11-14 June | 9 |
| Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s 24/25 | 23-24 December, 27 December, 30-31 December | 12 |
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