Public Holidays

Payment, penalty rates & set‑off clauses

Paid day off: who is paid?

Employee type Entitled to a paid public holiday?
Full‑time Yes — base rate for ordinary hours if you would have worked that day
Part‑time Yes — if normally rostered/ordinary hours that day
Casual Not automatically — payment/penalties only if you work (check award/EA)
Contractor No — not an employee under the NES

If you work the day

  • Check your award/EA/contract for public holiday penalty rates, overtime, or TOIL rules.
  • Some contracts use a set‑off clause (or loaded salary) to absorb penalties/overtime up to a limit — the terms must be clear and the pay sufficient to cover entitlements.

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