DEEP DIVE: Do we deserve more holidays?
The minimum amount of holidays for a full-time worker in Australia is four weeks a year. But is that enough? Unions are pushing for workers to get one whole week extra, in what they reckon would be the first substantial increase to the minimum standards since the mid 70s. Part of the argument for younger workers is that the change is especially important because they're already doing several weeks' worth of unpaid overtime every year. Not everyone backs it though: some small businesses reckon they simply can't afford it. In the deep dive today, we unpack the proposal for an extra week of holidays, and hear from an expert who reckons Aussies aren't even using the leave we're already getting. Guests: Dr Libby Sander, Associate Professor, Bond University Get the whole story from hack: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm
An episode of the Hack podcast, hosted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, titled "DEEP DIVE: Do we deserve more holidays?" was published on March 6, 2026 and runs 12 minutes.
March 6, 2026 ·12m · Hack
Summary
The minimum amount of holidays for a full-time worker in Australia is four weeks a year. But is that enough? Unions are pushing for workers to get one whole week extra, in what they reckon would be the first substantial increase to the minimum standards since the mid 70s. Part of the argument for younger workers is that the change is especially important because they're already doing several weeks' worth of unpaid overtime every year. Not everyone backs it though: some small businesses reckon they simply can't afford it. In the deep dive today, we unpack the proposal for an extra week of holidays, and hear from an expert who reckons Aussies aren't even using the leave we're already getting. Guests: Dr Libby Sander, Associate Professor, Bond University Get the whole story from hack: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok Subscribe to the hack podcast Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm
Episode Description
The minimum amount of holidays for a full-time worker in Australia is four weeks a year.
But is that enough?
Unions are pushing for workers to get one whole week extra, in what they reckon would be the first substantial increase to the minimum standards since the mid 70s.
Part of the argument for younger workers is that the change is especially important because they're already doing several weeks' worth of unpaid overtime every year.
Not everyone backs it though: some small businesses reckon they simply can't afford it.
In the deep dive today, we unpack the proposal for an extra week of holidays, and hear from an expert who reckons Aussies aren't even using the leave we're already getting.
Guests:
- Dr Libby Sander, Associate Professor, Bond University
Get the whole story from hack:
- Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
- Subscribe to the hack podcast
- Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm
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