Daylight saving time
Daylight saving time can affect an employee’s pay if they work when the clock changes.
On this page:
- About daylight saving time
- Where daylight saving time is observed
- How daylight saving time affects pay
- Video: Daylight saving time
- Tools and resources
- Related information
About daylight saving time
Daylight saving time is the practice of moving the clocks forward during the warmer months.
Daylight saving time begins when clocks move forward by one hour. This happens at 2 am on the first Sunday in October.
Daylight saving time ends when clocks move back by one hour. This happens at 3 am on the first Sunday in April.
Where daylight saving time is observed
Daylight saving time is observed in:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria.
Not all states and territories observe daylight saving time. There’s no change to time in:
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- Western Australia.
How daylight saving time affects pay
Employees should check if there’s anything about working overnight when daylight saving time starts or ends in their:
If it doesn’t say anything, an employee who works an overnight shift when the clocks change is paid ‘by the clock’.
Tip: Understand being paid ‘by the clock’
‘By the clock’ means an employee is paid based on the start and finish time shown on the clock, rather than the actual number of hours worked.
When daylight saving time starts
Daylight saving time starts on the first Sunday of October when the clock moves forward at 2 am to 3 am.
An employee who works an overnight shift and is paid by the clock will work one hour less but still get payment for the full shift.
Example: Working through the night when daylight saving time starts
Dave is a shiftworker in a factory. His usual shift over the weekend is 8:30 pm on Saturday to 5 am on Sunday. He works for 8 hours and has a 30 minute unpaid break.
Dave doesn’t have an award or an enterprise agreement that says anything about daylight saving time.
During Dave’s weekend shift on the first Sunday in October, daylight saving time starts and the clock moves forward an hour. While Dave actually works 7 hours, which is one hour less than usual, he is still paid for 8 hours.
If Dave is working his usual shift when daylight saving time ends the following April, he will work for 9 hours, which is one hour more than usual, but he will be paid for 8 hours.
When daylight saving time ends
Daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday of April when the clock rolls back at 3 am to 2 am.
An employee who works an overnight shift and is paid by the clock will work an extra hour but won't be paid for that extra hour.
Example: Working through the night when daylight saving time ends
Hao is a baker who works every Sunday from 1 am to 8:30 am. They work for 8 hours and have a 30 minute unpaid break.
Hao doesn't have an award or enterprise agreement that says anything about daylight saving time.
During Hao’s shift on the first Sunday in April, daylight saving time ends and the clock goes back one hour. While Hao works for 9 hours, which is one hour more than usual, they are paid for 8 hours of work ‘by the clock’.
If Hao is working their usual Sunday shift when daylight saving time starts in October, they will work 7 hours, which is one hour less than usual, but will be paid for 8 hours.
Video: Daylight saving time
Watch our short video on daylight saving time to learn about:
- what being paid ‘by the clock’ means
- pay when daylight saving time starts
- pay when daylight saving time ends.
