Public holidays for dairy employees: September to November 2026

Public holiday dates at a glance

What you need to do

• Check which public holidays apply where each of your employees works.
• Confirm which award covers each employee: the Pastoral Award 2020 or the WA Farm Employees Award.
• Work out the correct pay for anyone rostered on, or working, a public holiday.
• Give reasonable notice if you're asking an employee to work a public holiday. 

How much do I pay a dairy employee who works a public holiday?

These rates apply to dairy employees covered by the Pastoral Award 2020.

Permanent employees (full-time and part-time)

If a public holiday falls on a permanent employee's usual rostered workday, you have two options:

• The employee takes the day off and is paid their base hourly rate for their ordinary hours, or
• The employee works and is paid double time (200% of their base hourly rate) for each hour worked.

If a public holiday falls on a permanent employee's regular day off, there is no additional entitlement or payment.

Permanent employees on an Individual Flexibility Agreement (IFA) or annualised salary

Public holiday entitlements may already be built into the employee's overall remuneration. Assess this case by case by reviewing the relevant agreement or salary arrangement.

Casual employees

• A casual employee who does not work on a public holiday is not entitled to any payment.
• A casual employee who works on a public holiday must be paid 225% of their base rate of pay.

Can I require an employee to work on a public holiday?

You can ask an employee to work on a public holiday if the request is reasonable. An employee can refuse if your request is not reasonable, or if their refusal is reasonable.

To decide whether a request or a refusal is reasonable, weigh up factors including:

• the nature of your business and its operational requirements
• the employee's personal circumstances, including family responsibilities
• the employee's expectations about working on the public holiday
• whether the employee is entitled to penalty rates or other compensation for working
• the employee's status (full-time, part-time, casual or shift worker)
• how much notice you gave when asking them to work
• how much notice the employee gave if they don't want to work
• any other relevant matter.

• Covered by the Pastoral Award 2020: the public holiday rules and penalty rates above apply.
• Covered by the WA Farm Employees Award: there is no public holiday penalty rate. The employee can be paid their ordinary rate whether they work or not. You can ask them to work, but they can refuse if they have a reasonable reason.

Where to get more help

For more detail on public holiday entitlements, see the Fair Work Ombudsman guide:

• Public holidays
• Not working on public holidays