With the festive season fast approaching, it is important to understand employee entitlements regarding public holidays.
Full-time and part-time employees who have time off on public holidays are paid their base rate of pay for the ordinary hours they would have worked, had it not been for the public holiday. However, a part-time employee is not entitled to payment if their agreed part-time hours do not include the day of the week on which the public holiday falls.
Working on Public Holidays
If employees are required to work on a public holiday, then you must ensure they are paid the appropriate penalty rates under the relevant Award. Some Awards, such as the Restaurant Award and Hospitality Award have additional public holiday arrangements for full-time employees, so check your Award(s) to confirm what applies to your business.
Public Holidays (PH) Australia – December 2021 – January 2022
To clarify the up-coming public holidays!
ACT, NSW, VIC, WA
Saturday 25/12/21 – Christmas Day
Sunday 26/12/21 – Boxing Day
Monday 27/12/21 – Christmas Day (Additional PH)
Tuesday 28/12/21 – Boxing Day (Additional PH)
Saturday 1/1/22 – New Year’s Day
Monday 3/1/22 – New Year’s Day (Additional PH)
NT
Friday 24/12/21 – Christmas Eve (part day PH, 7pm – midnight)
Saturday 25/12/21 – Christmas Day
Sunday 26/12/21 – Boxing Day
Monday 27/12/21 – Christmas Day (Additional PH)
Tuesday 28/12/21 – Boxing Day (Additional PH)
Friday 31/12/21 – New Year’s Eve (part day PH, 7pm – midnight)
Saturday 1/1/22 – New Year’s Day
Monday 3/1/22 – New Year’s Day (Additional PH)
QLD
Friday 24/12/21 – Christmas Eve (part day PH, 6pm – midnight)
Saturday 25/12/21 – Christmas Day
Sunday 26/12/21 – Boxing Day
Monday 27/12/21 – Christmas Day (Additional PH)
Tuesday 28/12/21 – Boxing Day (Additional PH)
Saturday 1/1/22 – New Year’s Day
Monday 3/1/22 – New Year’s Day (Additional PH)
SA
Friday 24/12/21 – Christmas Eve (part day PH, 7pm – midnight)
Sunday 26/12/21 – Boxing Day / Proclamation Day
Monday 27/12/21 – Christmas Day (Substitute PH)
Tuesday 28/12/21 – Boxing Day (Additional PH)
Friday 31/12/21 – New Year’s Eve (part day PH, 7pm – midnight)
Monday 3/1/22 – New Year’s Day (Substitute PH)
Note: In SA when 1 January, 26 January, 25 December & 26 December fall on a Saturday the public holiday moves to the following Monday. This means that in 2021 Christmas Day is not designated as a public holiday for industrial purposes and neither is New Year’s Day in 2022. Many industrial awards and agreements include specific provisions for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, so check your Awards and/or Agreements for provisions that may apply.
TAS
Saturday 25/12/21 – Christmas Day
Monday 27/12/21 – Christmas Day (Additional PH)
Tuesday 28/12/21 – Boxing Day (Substitute PH)
Monday 3/1/22 – New Year’s Day (Substitute PH)
All States and Territories have a public holiday on Wednesday 26/1/21 for Australia Day.
If you have any questions or concerns about Public Holiday Entitlements, please don’t hesitate to contact us, or if you are a ServoPro member speak with HR Central at our free HR Helpdesk (1300 089 915) to talk through this or any staff-related issues.