FWC Penalty Rates Case Decision

by Acumen Lawyers23 February 2017Modern Awards, Workplace News

If you have been tuning into the news media over the past couple of days, you would have picked up reports that the Fair Work Commission (FWC) was about to hand down a decision regarding Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for a number of modern awards.

That decision was announced on Thursday, 23 February 2017 at 11am.

Why were penalty rates being reviewed?

Every 4 years the Fair Work Commission is required to review all modern awards in accordance with the Fair Work Act 2009.

As part of the Review, applications were made by employer organisations to vary the penalty rates in a number of modern awards. The FWC full bench decision, is in response to those applications.

What is the decision?

The Fair Work Commission announced that Sunday penalty rates of specific awards in the hospitality, fast food, retail and pharmacy industries will be reduced. There will also be a reduction in public holiday rates for some awards.

Sunday penalty rates for the restaurant and clubs awards will not be affected.

There are no changes to Saturday penalty rates.

For more information regarding the decision, we recommend you read:

Which modern awards are affected by the decision?

The penalty rates provisions only impact the following awards:

Need more information?

Full details about the Penalty Rates case can be found on the Fair Work Commission’s website.

About the author

Brad Petley, is the Principal of Acumen Lawyers, a boutique employment and safety legal practice based in Brisbane, but happily solving workplace issues for clients Australia-wide.

Brad is a QLS Accredited Specialist in Workplace Relations Law.