News Flash

Recently the PSA became aware of part-time employees who were not being paid correctly for occasional work on Saturdays and Sundays. These hours were not part of their normal rostered hours however the employer determined that the hours were additional hours and therefore only paid a 50% penalty for the hours worked.

The PSA maintained that the occasional rostered work for part-time employees on Saturdays and Sundays was overtime and should attract the applicable overtime rates of pay. The PSA wrote to Chief Executive, Department for Administrative and Information Services expressing the PSA interpretation of the Award and requested that correct advice be provided to the relevant agency.

Response received from Public Sector Workforce Relations confirmed the PSA interpretation of the Award stating in part:

“If an employee's 'normal hours of duty' are Monday to Friday, i.e. 5 day week worker and then that employee works occasional weekends they are, regardless of whether they are a part-time or full-time employee, entitled to the overtime penalty rates as outlined in clause 6.1.6.2 of the SAPSSEI Award”.

The correct overtime rates are:

On a Saturday (except when a public holiday) – time and a half for the first 3 hours and double time thereafter, except that all time worked in the afternoon will be at double time; on a Sunday – double time for all time worked. A minimum payment as for 3 hours work at the appropriate rate applies to all overtime worked on Saturdays and Sundays.

Any part-time or full-time members who believe they are not receiving correct payment for work on Saturdays and Sundays should contact the PSA for clarification.

PSA WORKING FOR YOU

15 August 2006