Daylight saving time
Daylight saving time can affect what an employee gets paid if they work when the clock changes.
On this page:
- What is daylight saving
- Where daylight saving time is observed
- How daylight saving time affects pay
- Tools and resources
- Related information
What is 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 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, all employees who work overnight when daylight saving starts are paid ‘by the clock’.
Tip: Understand being paid ‘by the clock’
‘By the clock’ means that employees are paid for what their usual number of hours would be based on the clock.
Daylight saving time starts when the clock moves forward at 2 am to 3 am. Employees who work an overnight shift will work one hour less but are still paid for the full shift according to the clock.
When daylight saving time ends next year and the clock rolls back at 3 am to 2 am, employees who work overnight will work for an extra hour but won't be paid for that extra hour.
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 until 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, 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.
When daylight saving time ends next year, the clock moves back an hour. If Dave is working his usual shift, he will work for 9 hours, which is one hour more than usual, but he will be paid for 8 hours.
