Law firm says thank you to staff by giving them all four-day Australia Day holiday

WE were all warned not to take a sneaky sickie today. That was unless you work for this guy — the best boss in Australia.

AUSTRALIANS were warned in no uncertain terms not to take off a sneaky sickie today, the sole work day wedged between the weekend and the Australia Day public holiday.

But employees at one company didn’t need to worry about calling in sick today to have an extra long weekend. They didn’t even need to concern themselves within filling out a leave form.

In fact, they have all been told to take today off and it won’t even impact their leave entitlements.

Michael Tiyce, of Sydney-based family law firm Tiyce & Lawyers, told news.com.au his staff deserved the extra days’ vacation.

“It’s basically me saying thanks to them and it helps make the office a good place,” he said.

Up to 180,000 people are thought to have called their bosses this morning, coughing and wheezing down the phone explaining how they’re simply too ill to struggle into work, in a move that could cost employers up to $62 million, reported the Daily Telegraph.

But Mr Tiyce said he had no qualms about giving his staff a bonus day at home.

Even Kaiser the schnauzer got the day off.

Michael Tiyce: The best boss in Australia.

“I thought the timing of the Australia Day holiday would be a good opportunity to give them an extended long weekend,” he said.

“They’re all really hard workers and we work in family law which can be pretty draining so letting people have another day off is giving something back to the staff.”

Mr Tiyce’s team of nine were told about the extra day off two weeks ago. “As you can imagine, it’s had the desired affect and the staff are very happy,” he said.

“Regrettably, one of the staff does have a court matter on in the morning so he will have to attend to that but otherwise we have our out-of-office emails on and mine has my mobile so if something a client needs to contact me they can contact me.”

Mr Tiyce said he realised this wouldn’t work for every business but he encouraged other employers to consider doing the same.

“I would have thought flexibility within the workplace makes for a better and happier workplace,” he said.

“It requires a fair bit of planning beforehand and it may not work for others but it works for me.”

While the business would be hit with the cost of wages for the day, Mr Tiyce said that the firm wouldn’t lose any income.

The most high profile example of Australians being encouraged not to turn up for work on a standard weekday was former Prime Minister Bob Hawke who, as Australia won the 1983 America’s Cup, said “any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum”.

But that sentiment was not shared by industry leaders in the run up to Australia Day.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Kate Carnell said that while people were entitled to take today off as a genuine leave day, a spike in sickies could have a “huge” effect on businesses.

“This could have a very large impact on the economy if it’s not well managed,” Ms Carnell said yesterday.

“From a business perspective, Monday is a normal business day. They’ve got to open their businesses and they need people to be able to do that.

“(Taking Monday off) should be part of your holidays or should be planned. It’s the unplanned ones or “sickies” that kill business and impact on the economy.”

However, trade union leaders, said business groups were giving Australians a guilt trip for choosing to spend time with their families.

Leo Kafka with his dad Peter, mum Lauren and sister Olivia are looking forward to this week’s Australia Day celebrations.

Unions NSW Acting Secretary Mark Morey said Australians worked so much unpaid overtime they “donated” $2.1 billion to their employers on an average week or $9471 dollars per person every year.

“Of course leave entitlements should be taken appropriately, but before the bosses’ lobby works themselves into a lather we need some perspective.

“When you consider all the context, running a campaign to aggressively begrudge workers a day off — on a single, conveniently placed Monday in this summer — is simply mean spirited.”

Asked if his staff thought he was the greatest boss in Australia, Mr Tiyce said: “ They absolutely think I’m the best boss ever. They tell me that all the time.”