Question: I am a registered nurse working in a public hospital. I am a day worker and normally have a public holiday off on pay when it falls on one of my ordinary working days. This year, however, I was required to work on one of them. How should I be paid?

Answer: Under Clause 30(ii)(c) ~ Annual Leave ~ of the Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award, as a day worker (i.e. someone under the Award who receives four weeks of annual leave per year) the default position is that you receive your normal rate of pay plus 50 per cent extra for the time worked and have one day added to your annual leave. Alternatively, you may elect to be paid your normal rate of pay plus 150 per cent extra instead of having the additional day added to your annual leave. This election is generally completed each year on your anniversary date.