Fair Work Ombudsman tells employers and workers to check pay and entitlements over public holiday period
Employers and employees are being told to check their pay rates and entitlements that apply over the Easter public holiday period.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has issued a notice to workers and their bosses about the need to be aware of how the holiday period affects pay packets.
Good Friday (April 3) and Easter Monday (April 6) are national public holidays, with some states and territories also declaring Easter Saturday and/or Easter Sunday public holidays.
“Whether you are a business operator preparing for Easter trading or an employee working through Easter, it’s important you are aware of the public holidays and any penalty rates that apply,” ombudsman Natalie James says.
“We’ve updated our website to help employers and workers understand and comply with their rights and obligations with a minimum of stress this Easter.”
James says most underpayments are inadvertent and are the result of employers failing to check their obligations under workplace laws.
“It is important for employers to be fully aware of the minimum pay rates that apply to their employees, otherwise they can end up facing bills for back-payment of wages they weren’t budgeting for,” she says.
The FWO’s website includes an overview of the workplace laws that apply on public holidays, including what employers need to pay and what employees are entitled to.
The agency says the site contains tools that employers can use to check the minimum pay rates and entitlements specific to their workplace.