Unions will be out in force checking café owners are paying the correct public holiday penalty rate of double time and a quarter to young workers this Easter long weekend.
Young people working in cafes, supermarkets and restaurants are especially vulnerable to being ripped off with a recent study finding one in two aren’t receiving their legal entitlements.
All four days of the Easter long weekend are public holidays including Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Unions NSW Assistant Secretary, Thomas Costa, says casual employees were particularly vulnerable to being ripped off during public holiday periods.
“In key industries such as retail and hospitality, special loading rates of double time and a quarter and sometimes double time and a half apply for working Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday,” he said.
“If you’re not getting paid over double what you are for a normal shift then you know there’s something wrong.
“It’s really important employees are aware of this, and if they’re in any doubt or think they’re being ripped off, they should contact their union.
“Union officials will be out in force across NSW this Easter long weekend making sure businesses are paying their staff their full penalty rate entitlements.
“Most employers are excellent so it’s really important they don’t have to compete with people who are ripping off their staff, that’s completely unfair,” he says.
Mr Costa also reminded employees that it was voluntary to work on public holidays.
“No worker should feel coerced into working Good Friday or Easter Sunday – you have every right to decline a shift,” Mr Costa says.
“The Easter long weekend is a good time to relax with family and friends and that’s what we encourage working people to do.
“As it is Aussies do more unpaid overtime than anywhere in the world, so they truly deserve a bonus when they also work on their holidays.
“Australia Institute data shows on average Australian workers do 6.1 hours of unpaid overtime a week.
“That’s like giving $230 to your boss each week.
“For the broader community, it’s worth sparing a thought for the workers who keep our restaurants, stores, hospitals and police stations staffed while the rest of us are relaxing over the long weekend,” says Unions NSW Assistant Secretary Thomas Costa.