Shift workers and public holidays
If your shift falls on a public holiday and you work you'll be paid time and a half. You'll also get a day in lieu (alternative holiday) if it's a day you usually work — even if you work only part of a shift.
Public holidays run from midnight to midnight.
If you work on a public holiday
If your shift falls on a public holiday you’ll be paid for the hours you work.
You’ll be paid whatever pays more, either:
- time and a half, or
- what you’d normally be paid — including any extra money you’re paid for working on a particular type of day, sometimes called a penal rate.
If it’s a day you’d usually work you’ll also get a day in lieu (alternative holiday) for the public holiday the shift covers — even if your shift covers only part of a public holiday.
Employees working shifts or on call
Days in lieu (alternative holidays)
If you aren’t sure it’s a day you usually work
You need to talk to your employer, and agree together if it’s a day you’d usually work. The Employment NZ website explains what you and your employer must consider.
If you don’t work on a public holiday
If it’s a day you usually work you’ll be paid either:
- what you’d get if you had worked that day — this is known as relevant daily pay, or
- your average daily pay over the past 52 weeks.
There are rules for whether you’re paid relevant daily pay or average daily pay.
Relevant daily pay and average daily pay
If your shift falls across 2 days
If you work shifts that cross over 2 days, you can ask your employer to transfer the public holiday. Your employer doesn’t have to agree.
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