How do I pay employees for Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, and Anzac Day?
- Which days are public holidays?
- Which days are restricted trading days?
- Can employees refuse to work on Easter Sunday?
- What do I pay people if can't offer them their usual working hours due to trading restrictions?
- Further learning.
Which days are public holidays?
Public holidays over Easter vary in each state and territory.
It is important that you make sure you check these dates at the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Which days are 'restricted shop trading days', and what does this mean?
Good Friday and Easter Sunday can be restricted retail trading days depending on what state or territory you are in.
In some states almost all shops are required to be closed, excluding shops with exclusions either due to the nature of their trade (petrol stations, cafes etc.), or those with area exemptions as gazetted by State Governments.
Trading restrictions for non-exempt stores
ACT and Northern Territory
No restrictions.
NSW
Closed days: Good Friday, Easter Sunday, ANZAC Day until 1pm.
Victoria
Closed days: Good Friday, ANZAC Day until 1pm.
Tasmania
Closed days: Good Friday, ANZAC Day until 12:30pm.
Queensland
Closed days: Good Friday, ANZAC Day.
Shops in some areas (e.g. Southeast Queensland and tourist areas) have further trading hour restrictions over Easter. Find out more at Business Queensland.
South Australia
Closed days: Good Friday, ANZAC Day.
Shops in some areas (e.g. Metro & Glenelg and proclaimed shopping districts) have further trading hour restrictions over Easter. Find out more at SafeWork SA.
Western Australia
Closed days: Good Friday, ANZAC Day.
Shops in some areas (e.g. Perth Metro) have further trading hour restrictions over Easter. Find out more at the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety website.
What do I pay my staff?
All employees who work on a public holiday must be paid the appropriate penalty rate as prescribed in the relevant Modern Award.
Alternatively, the Modern Award may provide for payment of penalty rates for working that day and the option to take another working day off (a day in lieu).
Please refer to the Modern Awards for details of payment over these holidays:
- General Retail Industry Award 2020.
- Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020.
- Fast Food Industry Award 2010.
- Restaurant Industry Award 2020.
- Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award 2020 – Driveway and Roadhouse Attendants/Console Operators.
Can employees refuse to work on Easter Sunday?
Yes, all shop employees have the right to refuse to work on Easter Sunday, and they don’t have to provide you with a reason for their refusal.
If you want to require your employee to work, you must notify them at least 4 weeks (but not more than 8 weeks) before Easter Sunday of this requirement. This notice must be in writing.
Should an employee refuse, they must notify you within 14 days of your request for them to work. This refusal must be in writing.
If I can't offer people their usual working hours due to trading restrictions, what do I pay them?
Staff need to be paid their minimum ordinary hourly rate of pay if they are a full-time employee. Part-time employees who have hours set or are usually rostered to work on the day also receive their usual normal rate of pay for the day.