Weekend, Sunday, public-holiday and casual loading — the penalty rates that decide what a retail roster really costs under the General Retail Industry Award (MA000004), in plain English, and how Schedaddle flags penalty exposure as you roster. General information, not legal or payroll advice.
Rates verified: July 2025
| Band | Loading |
|---|---|
| Weekday evening (after 18:00) | 1.25× the base rate |
| Saturday | 1.25× the base rate |
| Sunday | 1.5× the base rate |
| Public holiday | 2.5× the base rate |
| Overtime (first 3 hrs) | 1.5× the base rate |
| Overtime (after the first tier) | 2× the base rate |
| Casual loading | +25% on top of the applicable rate |
Rates are reviewed annually in the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review and take effect on 1 July each year. Figures for the MA000004, derived from Schedaddle’s award engine; verified July 2025.
Ordinary hours under the General Retail Industry Award (MA000004) are paid at the base rate — up to 38 ordinary hours a week and up to 9 ordinary hours in a day.
Weekday evening (after 18:00) attract a 25% loading (1.25× the base rate). So an ordinary weekday shift that runs into the evening picks up a loading on those later hours.
Saturday hours attract a 25% loading (1.25× the base rate) for most retail employees.
Saturday is the most common "extra cost" day on a retail roster, because it usually carries the highest reliable coverage need and a loading on every hour.
Sunday hours attract a 50% loading (1.5× the base rate) — higher than Saturday.
Sunday trading is where rosters get expensive fast: every Sunday hour is loaded, and casual staff carry their loading on top.
Public-holiday hours attract a 150% loading (2.5× the base rate) — the top penalty band.
Public holidays also interact with the National Employment Standards (an employee may be entitled to the day off or to refuse work in some cases). This guide covers the pay loading only.
Casual employees are paid a 25% casual loading on top of the base rate — and it applies on top of penalty rates where they apply, not instead of them.
That is why a casual working a loaded Sunday is one of the most expensive hours on a retail roster, and why seeing casual status in your cost view matters.
Hours worked beyond the daily ordinary cap of 9 hours are overtime: the first tier is paid at time-and-a-half (1.5× the base rate), then double time (2× the base rate) beyond that.
The award also caps the spread of hours (the elapsed clock-in-to-clock-out window) at 11 hours; time worked beyond the spread is overtime-rated.
Pick your Modern Award and Schedaddle classifies every clocked shift into its penalty band — ordinary, weekday evening, Saturday, Sunday and public holiday — applies casual loading and tiered overtime, and shows the loaded labour cost of the roster in ordinary-hour-equivalent terms, per employee and per store. You see what a Sunday-heavy roster actually loads up to before you publish, not after payroll runs.
Honest about the limits. General information only — not legal or payroll advice. Penalty rates carry classifications, allowances, and coverage tests this page does not evaluate, and they change annually. Confirm the current figures with the Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission, or your payroll provider before paying staff.
Under the MA000004, Saturday is a 25% loading (1.25× the base rate) and Sunday a 50% loading (1.5× the base rate), with public holidays at a 150% loading (2.5× the base rate). Casuals add a 25% loading on top. Rates change annually on 1 July — verify the current figures with the Fair Work Ombudsman.
On top. A casual’s 25% loading applies in addition to any weekend, Sunday or public-holiday penalty rate, not as an alternative.
Rates are reviewed annually in the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review and take effect on 1 July each year. The figures on this page were verified July 2025.
Schedaddle classifies each clocked shift into its penalty band and shows the loaded labour cost of a roster — an estimate to verify, not a payroll calculation or legal advice.
General information only — not legal or payroll advice. Penalty rates carry classifications, allowances, and coverage tests this page does not evaluate, and they change annually. Confirm the current figures with the Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Commission, or your payroll provider before paying staff.
Pick your award and Schedaddle shows the loaded penalty-rate cost of every roster.