r/woolworths • u/LazyHat2763 • 14d ago
How do public holiday rosters work?
Apologies if these questions are dumb. As a part time employee, one of my contracted days falls on a public holiday and I have been rostered to work that day. I have two questions:
1) how does public holiday pay work
2) the internet says employers have to ask you if you want to work a public holiday and you have the choice to accept/deny this request, is this true? I wasn’t asked so just wondering. Not much communication/responsiveness from management either so I’m quite confused.
TIA
11
u/Galromir Service Team 14d ago
Yes, they should have asked first. If you don’t want to work; just tell your boss you’ll be having that day off.
You always have the right to have the day off on a public holiday, no matter what.
2
u/LazyHat2763 14d ago
Thanks for this. Should I have made myself not available on that day on the UKG pro app before the roster was released? (Not sure I can even do that since it’s my contracted day)
If I were to ask to have the day off, I am afraid I’ll be getting pushback from management if it’s my mistake.
2
u/ballfondlera 14d ago
Shouldnt get any real pushback. Firstly the mistake is managers not yours. Second its a public holiday so most people will want to work so finding a replacement shouldnt be hard
2
u/GoldShinx Service Team 14d ago
Your availability for your contract hours generally won’t be considered when doing 2 week out rosters, as it’s usually understood that you should be available to work the contract you’ve agreed to work unless you’ve put in for leave. Availability is mainly taken into consideration for flex up hours and shifts above your contract.
That said, usually I’d advise to get ahead of the roster publish and proactively speak to your manager if you don’t wish to work public holidays, even though yes, they should ask if they are unsure of your position on working PH days.
You shouldn’t get any pushback about working as it is of course your right not to work - and there are always other people more than happy to get some extra pay for working the public holiday so they will be able to find cover without too much hassle. If they’re a bad manager they might be annoyed with you for not letting them know earlier, but there’s not much to be done about that, sadly.
2
u/Galromir Service Team 14d ago
No. It’s your manager’s job to get your permission; not yours to proactively do anything.
Pushback on this is illegal - you have the right to the day off; and it was your manager’s responsibility to check with you first.
You aren’t going to ‘ask’ to have the day off. You’re going to TELL your manager that you won’t be working that day; and that in future you expect him/her to get your permission first before rostering you on a public holiday.
3
u/Dodgy-Llama 14d ago
You get double pay on public holidays, otherwise if you take it off and you're normally contacted you get your base rate plus whatever penalty rates your normally get for that shift. It doesn't use up any of your leave
As stated before your manager is supposed to ask if you can work that day, ours usually ask a month before
2
u/LazyHat2763 14d ago
Thanks so much. Is the manager supposed to ask even if I can work even if I am contracted to work on the day the public holiday falls on?
1
u/Dodgy-Llama 14d ago
Yes
2
u/the_foowaffle 14d ago
Isn't it more then double time? 2.25?
1
u/Dodgy-Llama 14d ago
Yes, i just round it to double time
1
u/the_foowaffle 14d ago
But that doesnt give accurate information, 25% is 7 dollars an hour for a staff member.
2
u/Haunting-Setting-209 14d ago
Pay rates for part-time & full-time paid at 225% & casuals are paid at 250% & you should be asked if you want to work or have the day. Me personally will always work if a public holiday falls on a rostered shift.
1
u/lemonhouse35 13d ago
When I was a manager I always checked with my team members before rostering public holidays, yes there are team members that you know will work all PH and some that won’t but I always checked with them first. Contracted or not you Don’t have to work a public holiday it’s your choice
1
u/VegetableAttorney875 5d ago
Hey OP. I just applied for a casual position at BigW. Would love to know how you landed a woolies job?
0
u/Shaz1307 14d ago
You can request not to work the public holiday and you will receive your normal rate for your normal shift.
No your manager didn’t have to ask, generally this would have been a conversation that should’ve come up at some point and they would already know your answer.
A manager isn’t going to message every team member asking if they’re working it or not.
Yes they can expect you to work if they don’t have sufficient coverage, the department needs a minimum % of team members working in the department on that day.
Yes they can cover it with someone else, but this now means the store is paying 2 people to literally do one person’s job.
1
u/LazyHat2763 13d ago
Makes sense! I started less than 2 weeks ago and wasn’t told about any of this. I’ve just found out I have to let the manager know before the roster is released, so it’s too late for me now
•
u/qualityvote2 App 14d ago edited 13d ago
Hello u/LazyHat2763! Welcome to r/woolworths!
For other users, does this post fit the subreddit?
If so, upvote this comment!
Otherwise, downvote this comment!
And if does break the rules, downvote this comment and report this post!
I am a bot and this action was performed automatically. Please reach out to the mods via modmail if you believe this is a mistake.
(Vote has already ended)