• Good Friday (29 March) – time and a half
• Easter Saturday (30 March) – double time and a half
• Easter Sunday (31 March) – double time and a half
• Easter Monday (1 April) – time and a half

As Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are ‘special’ public holidays, if you would normally work these days but are not rostered on, you should receive a day’s ordinary wages. You must complete an Attendance Variance Allowance Claim (AVAC) to receive the public holiday off payment. If you never work on weekends you will not qualify for this payment.   

All overtime worked on public holidays should be paid at double time and a half, whether it’s a ‘special’ public holiday or not. 

Thanks to improvements negotiated by the QNMU through EB11, the QNMU and QH are also now in agreement on work arrangements for public holidays. These improvements include:

• Annual leave is now exclusive of all public holidays – ie: you can now never have annual leave deducted on a public holiday.
• The requirement to give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice for stand down on a public holiday has been written into EB11 (it was previously only contained in the guide). This makes it more enforceable – so if you are stood down with less than 24 hours’ notice, you should be paid for the shift as if you had worked it (including penalties).

Public sector members can also view this public holiday guide, which outlines working arrangements on public holidays.

Most private sector enterprise agreements provide 200% for the Easter public holidays – but members should check their agreement for details.

For members who are covered by the Nurses Award 2020, the Easter public holidays for full-time or part-time employees who work ordinary hours is 200%.

For Personal Care Workers covered by the Aged Care Award 2010, the Easter public holidays for full-time or part-time employees who work ordinary hours is 250%.

If you are a full-time employee who normally works weekends, but you are rostered off over Easter, you should be paid your ordinary hours for the public holiday not worked. 

Again, it’s best to check your enterprise agreement or Award.

Queensland Health casuals who work on a public holiday will receive the public holiday penalty listed above, calculated on their usual casual loading rate.

Similarly, for the private sector, penalty rates (listed above) for ordinary hours on public holidays for most casual employees must be calculated on their usual casual loading rate.

Be sure to check your enterprise agreement or Award for full details.