Payroll & Penalty Rates: Hospitality Award Guide

Wage theft is a crime in several states now. Ignorance of the Hospitality Industry (General) Award (MA000009) is no longer a defense.

1. Weekend Penalty Rates

Casuals and permanent staff are entitled to higher rates on Saturdays (usually 125%-150%) and Sundays (150%-175%). Ensure your payroll software applies these automatically based on timesheets.

2. Late Night Penalties

If your staff work past 10pm or midnight (e.g., in a bar or restaurant), they are entitled to a late-night shift penalty. This is often missed by manual payroll processing.

3. Superannuation

Super must be paid on all "Ordinary Time Earnings." This includes weekend penalty rates but generally excludes overtime. Getting this distinction right is crucial for Superstream compliance.