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:
- overtime for casual shiftworkers
- ordinary rates and penalty rates for casual shiftworkers
- public holiday rates.
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.
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:
