If you are working over Easter, make sure you are receiving the correct penalty rates.
Note: The following advice applies for members working under the Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) Single Interest Employers Enterprise Agreement 2024–2028. If you do not work in the public sector, you should check your enterprise agreement for the specific clauses. You can check your agreement via the member portal.
Upcoming 2025 public holidays
- Friday 18 April: Good Friday
- Saturday 19 April: Easter Saturday
- Sunday 20 April: Easter Sunday
- Monday 21 April: Easter Monday
- Friday 25 April: Anzac Day
- Monday 9 June: King’s Birthday
What are the penalty payments for working a public holiday?
All full-time and part-time employees (aside from casuals) are to be paid:
- 200% for time worked on a public holiday that falls on a Monday–Friday
- 250% for time worked on a public holiday on a Saturday or Sunday
You can work this out by multiplying your hourly rate x2 for a weekday public holiday. And multiplying your hourly rate x2.5 for a weekend public holiday.
For casual employees the penalties are as follows:
- 250% for time worked on a public holiday Monday to Friday; or
- 312.5% for time worked on a public holiday on a Saturday or Sunday
The above weekend public holiday rates include the weekend shift penalty.
I’m a full-time worker. What happens if I’m on a day off on a public holiday?
You are entitled to the day off, with pay.
I’m a part-timer who works both weekdays and weekends, but I’m not working on a public holiday. What should I get paid?
If your unit is closed because of the public holiday, you are entitled to the day off, with pay.
If the public holiday falls on your day off, you are entitled to the pro-rata payment equivalent of a full-time employee. This is calculated by determining what fraction of 38 hours you usually work (let’s say 0.8 EFT) and multiplying a day’s pay by 0.8. If you normally work an 8-hour shift, 0.8 of an 8-hour shift is 6.4 hours. So you would receive 6.4 hours pay even though it was your day off.
If the public holiday falls on a weekend but I’m a part-timer who only works Monday–Friday, do I receive any penalties?
No, you will not receive penalties for the weekend public holiday, however if an additional or substitute day is declared on a weekday, then you will receive the public holiday rostered on/rostered off on that day.
What if I’m recalled to duty?
If you are recalled to duty, all payment for that recall is in addition to any ‘rostered off’ public holiday benefit.
