Christmas Shutdown + Public Holiday Pay Rights
Christmas Day 25 Dec, Boxing Day, NYE shifts, forced annual leave, no leave left — pick your situation, award and state to get clear rights and the right pay rates.
CHRISTMAS / NYE 2026-27 RIGHTS CHECKER
Christmas Day = Fri 25 Dec 2026, Boxing Day = Sat 26 Dec 2026 with an additional holiday on Mon 28 Dec 2026 (Tasmania: Mon 28 Dec only), NYD = Fri 1 Jan 2027. Pick your situation, award and state to see your rights.
Public-holiday pay rates
- Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec 2026), the Boxing Day public holiday (Sat 26 Dec 2026 and the additional Mon 28 Dec 2026) and New Year's Day (Fri 1 Jan 2027) are public holidays in NSW.
- Working on a gazetted public holiday: under Hospitality Industry General Award MA000009, you should be paid the public-holiday penalty rate (typically 225% adult / 250% casual (cl 29.2)).
- Permanent employees who don't work a public holiday still get paid as if they had worked their ordinary hours (no deduction for the day off).
- If you weren't paid the right rate, you can claim back-pay for up to 6 years.
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