Public Holiday Reminders
As we head into a season packed with public holidays across Australia, it’s a great time for employers to brush up on their responsibilities and ensure employees understand their rights. Whether it’s working, taking the day off, or getting paid correctly, knowing the rules around public holidays helps keep everything running smoothly.
Working on Public Holidays
Under the Fair Work Act, an employer can only request an employee to work a public holiday if the request is reasonable, and the employee agrees to work the holiday, or the refusal of the employee is unreasonable, which can then bring about a right for the employer to direct the working of the public holiday.
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 or Agreement.
Some Awards have additional requirements when it comes to public holidays, including additional minimum engagement requirements.
What does this mean?
A roster that includes public holidays, should, when issued, be accompanied by a request to work the public holiday and include an option for an employee to refuse to work. This may already be the practice in your business where a roster is issued and people can advise if they can’t work, but when it comes to Public Holidays, it will be good to make it clear that it’s a request.
Public Holidays that fall on an employee’s usual work day
Where a public holiday falls on a day that is a usual day for that employee to work (full time or part time employees), then they are entitled to not work that public holiday and be paid their usual pay for the day of the public holiday.
Example 1 – Jo is a part time employee who usually works Wednesday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm. Good Friday falls on one of Jo’s usual workdays. The business is closed for the Easter period so Jo does not have to work the public holiday and is entitled to her usual pay for working a Friday.
Example 2 – Mark is a part time employee who usually works Wednesday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm. The business is open for the Easter period and Mark has been requested to work on the Friday 9.00am-5.00pm. Mark agrees to work, he is entitled to be paid at the relevant penalty rate for the public holiday under his Award.
You cannot change an employee’s usual workday so that you don’t have to pay them for the public holiday. Under some Awards, an employer and an employee can agree to swap a public holiday for another day, but this needs to be agreed in advance and be allowed under the relevant Award or agreement.
Public Holidays that fall on an employee’s usual day off
If an employee does not normally work on a day that is a public holiday, they are not entitled to payment for that day.
Annual Leave Loading
Annual leave loading is provided under certain Awards and Agreements while employees are on annual leave. Employers should determine the relevant Award or Agreement coverage for their employees to determine if annual leave loading is applicable. When a public holiday occurs during annual leave, the employee generally receives their base pay for the public holiday without the additional leave loading.
Upcoming Public Holidays per State
The following is a list of public holidays falling in each state in April – May 2025. All states and territories will have Easter public holidays (though some are called different names), and each state also has other days across the next couple of months.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT):
- Friday, 18 April 2025 – Good Friday
- Saturday, 19 April 2025 – Easter Saturday
- Sunday, 20 April 2025 – Easter Sunday
- Monday, 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday
- Friday, 25 April 2025 – Anzac Day
New South Wales (NSW):
- Friday, 18 April 2025 – Good Friday
- Saturday, 19 April 2025 – Easter Saturday
- Sunday, 20 April 2025 – Easter Sunday
- Monday, 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday
- Friday, 25 April 2025 – Anzac Day
Northern Territory (NT):
- Friday, 18 April 2025 – Good Friday
- Saturday, 19 April 2025 – Easter Saturday
- Monday, 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday
- Friday, 25 April 2025 – Anzac Day
- Monday, 5 May 2025 – May Day
Queensland (QLD):
- Friday, 18 April 2025 – Good Friday
- Saturday, 19 April 2025 – The day after Good Friday
- Sunday, 20 April 2025 – Easter Sunday
- Monday, 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday
- Friday, 25 April 2025 – Anzac Day
- Monday, 5 May 2025 – Labour Day
South Australia (SA):
- Friday, 18 April 2025 – Good Friday
- Saturday, 19 April 2025 – Easter Saturday
- Monday, 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday
- Friday, 25 April 2025 – Anzac Day
Tasmania (TAS):
- Friday, 18 April 2025 – Good Friday
- Monday, 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday
- Tuesday, 22 April 2025 – Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only)
- Friday, 25 April 2025 – Anzac Day
Victoria (VIC):
- Friday, 18 April 2025 – Good Friday
- Saturday, 19 April 2025 – Saturday before Easter Sunday
- Sunday, 20 April 2025 – Easter Sunday
- Monday, 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday
- Friday, 25 April 2025 – Anzac Day
Western Australia (WA):
- Friday, 18 April 2025 – Good Friday
- Monday, 21 April 2025 – Easter Monday
- Friday, 25 April 2025 – Anzac Day
As usual, we encourage you to get in touch should you have any questions/concerns regarding this article or if you need support or clarification as to how you best implement/manage these changes with your team.
Important Reminder – Superannuation Increase – 1st July 2025
Changes are coming for Superannuation rates. From 1 July 2025, the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate will increase from 11.5% to 12%, giving Aussie workers a little extra boost for their retirement savings. This is the final step in the government’s plan to help people build a stronger financial future.
For employers, it’s a good time to check payroll systems, update budgets, and make sure everything is in place for a smooth transition. A little planning now will keep things stress-free when the change kicks in!
Need Advice?
ER Strategies are experts in employment compliance and can assist you in managing your employment compliance responsibilities. To discuss your obligations and assistance we can provide, get in touch with us at 1300 55 66 37, or click the button below.
