Penalty rate cuts on Australia Day
Australia Day tomorrow is important for many reasons.
And one of them is that it’s the first nationwide holiday in 2018.
And that means the new penalty rate regime will be kicking in.
It’s also politically loaded in the lead up to the Federal election and unions say workers in the hospitality, retail and fast-food sectors, who will be working on the Australia public holiday will lose an average of $95.46.
All employers will be required to pay staff in line with the public holiday rates as determined by their awards or agreements.
But the changes to penalty rates that came in halfway through 2017 will apply to workers in the pharmacy, fast food, hospitality, restaurant and retail sectors.
While some businesses have chosen to boycott the holiday in support of changing the date of the national day to one more inclusive of Australia’s First Peoples, employment lawyers say they can do that provided they double check their employee’s entitlements first.
Here is the list for the new penalty rates for Australia Day that came in 2017.
Hospitality Award
Full-time and part-time workers: Workers covered by the Hospitality Award must be paid 225 per cent of their standard hourly rate on public holidays.
Casual workers: Casual need to be paid at least 250 per cent of their standard hourly rates.
Restaurant Award
Full-time and part-time workers: These workers should get 225 per cent of their usual hourly rate
Casual workers: No changes to public holiday loadings for casual restaurant staff. The loading remains at 250 per cent of the standard rate.
Pharmacy Award
Full-time and part-time workers: These workers are entitled to 225 per cent of their standard rate on public holidays.
Casual workers: Casuals are now entitled to 250 per cent of their base rate.
Retail Award
Full-time and part-time workers: These staff are now entitled to 225 per cent of the ordinary rate for public holidays.
Casual workers: Casuals should get a 250 per cent loading.
Fast Food Award
Full-time and part-time workers: Full- and part-time fast food workers should get a 225 per cent loading on Australia Day.
Casual workers: Casual workers are entitled to 250 per cent of their standard rate for all hours worked on public holidays.
by Leon Gettler, January 25th 2017
