The QNMU is aware there has been some confusion regarding rates of pay in the private sector for the recent Christmas Eve public holiday (which applies from 6pm – midnight).

If you worked between 6pm and midnight on Christmas Eve (24 December 2022), you should have been paid at 200%. For any other hours worked on Christmas Eve (ie: up to 6pm), you should have been paid your ordinary rate – in this case, Saturday rate.

If you would ordinarily be required to work on Christmas Eve between 6pm and midnight on 24 December, but you did not work, you should have been paid for the hours you would have worked between 6pm and midnight at the ordinary rate of pay.  

The same applies for Christmas Day (25 December), which also provides for 200% if you worked it.

We encourage you to check your payslip to ensure you were paid the correct rates, and to contact your line manager if you have any issues.

Public sector

Thanks to EB11 being voted up and certified prior to the Christmas period, all public sector nurses and midwives who worked Christmas Day should have been paid triple time, or a day’s wage if you did not work it. 

Similarly, if you worked on Christmas Eve between 6pm and midnight, you should have been paid double time and a half.

If you would ordinarily be required to work on Christmas Eve between 6pm and midnight on 24 December, but you did not work, you should have been paid for the hours you would have worked between 6pm and midnight at the ordinary rate of pay.