From the first full pay period commencing on or after 9 July 2019, all ordinary hours worked by a permanent employee on Saturday between 8.00 am and 4.30 pm are just paid with a 50 per cent loading (meaning double time is no longer required from the third hour afternoon).

Casual employees currently receive a 75 per cent loading instead of their normal 25 per cent loading for all time worked on Saturdays. This will not change.

Working after 6.00 pm on weekdays.

Within the current span of hours, all ordinary hours rostered to finish after 6.00 pm on weekdays are paid with a 15 per cent loading or overtime is being paid for all hours past 6.00 pm.

From the first full pay period commencing on or after 9 July 2019, neither will be applicable, provided the employee’s ordinary hours finish before 9.00 pm.

To demonstrate this, let’s look at the following example...

If an ordinary shift is 12.00 pm–7.00 pm (weekday), before 9 July all hours worked are paid with a 15 per cent shift loading; from the first full pay period commencing on or after 9 July all hours worked are paid at the employee’s ordinary rate.

This has caused confusion for some, as the shift work clause of the Award reads: ‘29.1 where the ordinary rostered hours of work of a shift worker finish between 6.00 pm and 8.00 am or commence between 6.00 pm and 6.00 am, the employee will be paid an additional loading of 15 per cent of their ordinary rate of pay.’

This has led some to believe that the change is immaterial for work performed after 6.00 pm, but a closer examination of the clause proves otherwise. Specifically, the term ‘shift worker’ is defined under the Award as an employee who is regularly rostered to work their ordinary hours outside the span of hours.

Therefore, provided the employee finishes before 9.00 pm on a weekday (within the span of hours), they are not a shift worker and the 15 per cent penalty will not be applicable when a shift finishes after 6.00 pm but before 9.00 pm. The shift allowance will continue to apply if an employee’s ordinary rostered hours finish after 9.00 pm (eg, a shift of 3.00 pm – 10.00 pm).

What will this mean for employees?

For employees paid on the Award rate, their rate of pay will be affected when performing work afternoon on Saturdays and after 6.00 pm on weekdays.

Employees paid a higher rate (whether it is an all-up hourly rate, salary or commission-type arrangement), which was structured to absorb Award penalties and loadings, cannot have their rate of pay reduced.

Employers are also reminded to keep an eye on the National Wage Review decision, which will affect minimum wages from the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2019.

Wentworth Advantage operates the HR in Practice workplace relations advisory service for APA Business group members. If you have any questions about this article, contact the HR in Practice service on hrinpractice@physiotherapy.asn.au. For more information on the benefits of joining the Business group, email info@physiotherapy.asn.au or call 1300 306 622.

Disclaimer: The material contained in this publication is general comment and is not intended as advice on any particular matter, nor should it be relied on as a substitute for legal or professional advice. Wentworth Advantage Pty Ltd expressly disclaim all and any liability to any persons whatsoever in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by any such person in reliance whether in whole or in part upon any of the contents of this publication.