Electrical Award changes for casual employees

Published 23 November 2021

The Fair Work Commission (the Commission) has clarified how certain casual penalty and overtime rates should be calculated under the Electrical Award.

This applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 23 November 2021.

On this page:

What's changing

The Commission has made a decision clarifying how the following casual pay rates under the Electrical Award need to be paid:

This decision applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 23 November 2021.

Overtime for casual shiftworkers

Casual shiftworkers need to be paid:

  • 250% of the ordinary hourly rate if working continuous shiftwork, or
  • if not working continuous shiftwork, 187.5% of the ordinary hourly rate for the first 2 hours and 250% after that.

Overtime rates for casuals are calculated by adding the casual loading to the ordinary hourly rate before applying the overtime rates.

You can use our Pay and Conditions Tool to calculate these rates.

Ordinary rates and penalty rates for casual shiftworkers

Ordinary rates and penalty rates payable to casual shiftworkers have also been clarified as part of the Commission’s decision. The percentage of the ordinary hourly rate payable to casual shiftworkers depends on when they work their shifts.

The penalty rates that apply for different shifts are set out in the table below.

Type of shift Percentage of ordinary hourly rate payable
Non-successive afternoon and night shifts 187.5% for the first two hours and 250% after that
Saturday shifts 187.5%
Sunday shifts 250%
Public holidays – continuous 250%
Public holidays – non-continuous 312.5%

Example: Penalty rates for casual shiftworkers – Saturday shifts

Nelson is a casual shiftworker at Sam’s electrical business and he regularly works on weekends.

Until recently, Nelson was being paid 175% of his ordinary hourly rate for working a Saturday shift. However, following the changes to the Electrical Award, Nelson is now entitled to be paid 187.5%.

Sam uses the Pay and Conditions Tool to find Nelson’s new pay rates.

You can calculate pay rates (including overtime and penalty rates) using our Pay and Conditions Tool.

Public holiday rates for casuals

Casuals need to be paid 312.5% of their ordinary hourly rate when working on public holidays.

More information

Pay rates

You can calculate pay rates (including overtime and penalty rates) using our Pay and Conditions Tool.

Minimum rates are also in our Pay guides.

Decision

To learn more, you can read the Commission’s: