This Working Life
This Working Life
ABC Australia
Is more annual leave the answer to preventing burnout?
25 minutes Posted Mar 15, 2026 at 6:00 pm.
0:00
25:15
Download MP3
Show notes
With burnout and overwork a problem for staff and employers alike, a proposal to add an extra week to annual leave balances for Australian workers is on the table.  
We speak with a business that already offers five weeks of annual leave per year, and hear from management and labour law experts on whether this add on is the answer, or if there's a better solution.
Guests: 
Shae McCrystal, Professor of Labour Law, The University of Sydney Law School 
Carol Kulik, Bradley Distinguished Professor, Centre for Workplace Excellence, Adelaide University 
Greg Day, Co-worker Experience Manager, IKEA