[Rachaelxxx]

I don't actually know what the regulations are in regards to weekend loading but apparently from what I can gather, it's coming up for discussion again because small businesses are really suffering and can't afford to pay for weekend loading.

I work in Real Estate and I've never been paid a loading or been given extra money for working a weekend, where my sister works for a bank and gets double time when she works a Saturday morning. Does anyone here get loading for working a weekend and if so what line of work are you in. Do you believe you should be entitled to weekend loading or should the same week day rate apply to the weekends as well.

This post has been edited by Rachaelxxx: 12/08/2012, 01:18 PM

[Tobias'smum]

it depends on the job i worked in a bank and i would want weekend loading but i also got loading for working past 5pm but in places that are open weekends i dont think it should apply as much

[countrymel]

I don't actually know what the regulations are in regards to weekend loading but apparently from what I can gather, it's coming up for discussion again because small businesses are really suffering and can't afford to pay for weekend loading.

Genuine small business owners that I know who can't afford to pay weekend loading rates work those hours themselves/make their families work them.

Most industries that traditionally have non 9 - 5, M -F working hours have awards drawn up to reflect this.

You don't see chefs getting double time for working nights!

[howdo]

I used to get weekend loading at Maccas. My husband currently gets weekend loading - but I wouldn't say he works for a small business. I think it'd be called an NGO.

[Impatientmummy]

we own a takeaway, our staff are causal & we are in NSW they get paid a casual loading on Saturday on top of their Mon-Fri rate plus an extra loading depending on their shift (under 4hrs or more than 4hrs) & Sunday has a higher loading again & public holidays are double time & a half plus a loading which is the killer for us so it is usually us working with the lowest paid staff we can get away with, weekend rates aren't too bad but we both usually work Sunday if I'm not on maternity leave which means ds is at the shop with us (customers love him actually & we get in trouble if hes not there lol). Check with Fair Work they have a calculator thing that works out what you are entitled to. Personally we dont find the loading to big a deal we usually only have 2-3 staff, as I said its the public holidays that are the killer but we lose a lot more money if we dont open at all!

This post has been edited by Impatientmummy: 12/08/2012, 01:39 PM

[Wigglemama]

I am a midwife and I get penalty rates for any shifts outside of Monday to Friday 7-3. Do I deserve it? Absolutely. I don't get paid nearly enough for what I do on a base rate and seeing as you need a university degree and to maintain your current practice, by going to inservices, meetings, acquiring new skills etc., sometimes outside of work hours, I think I am entitled to being compensated to work shifts that not "just anybody" can work because you actually have to be a midwife and in some scenarios at my workplace, you actually have to be an experienced midwife, as you are midwife in charge for that shift.

If a business requires workers outside of ordinary hours, they should compensate them for their time, particularly for night shifts. Otherwise, as someone else suggested, they should work the shifts themselves in they are not prepared to pay people for their time. Shift work is physically and mentally draining and can cut into your family time immensely. I have just finished seven days in a row, including a double shift due to staff shortages and I feel like I havent seen my family for years. While it was my choice, I do feel a duty of care to the women and the babies I look after as a core and senior staff member at the unit I work in.

[Natural_mum]

In both bar work and aged care I got loading (weekend, nights and public holidays). My partner is in security and he gets loading too. We get more more him working two weekend nights then we would for four days during the weeks.

[katpaws]

My DH gets loading etc. We worked out that he had not had a weekend off in almost a year recently. I would consider his work as shift work, as he can be called out for work at any time, even on days off. Some days we don't see him, depending upon what hours he works ie standard nine hours but he can work any from that. He has to work on days like Christmas, and Easter (unless they are annual leave or rostered days off). Before DD was born, we had spent maybe one Christmas together in ten years. He can get home from work and then be called out again. I think that he deserves the loading etc he gets as he is expected to drop everything for his work and his hours and requirements limit his leisure and family time.

I think loading etc comes from the Eight hour workday movement (ie 8 hours = work, 8 hours = sleep and 8 hours = leisure/rest) because workers were working ridiculous hours of work with very little wages. including working 6-7 days a week, up to 16 hours a day. But will stand to be corrected...

I agree pretty much with what Wigglemama said.

[aprilrain]

I laugh when people think nightfill is good money.

Mon-Fri 5am-12midnight normal, 12-5am +30%
Sat 5am-10pm normal, 10-12pm +25% Midnight- 6am Sunday +100
Sun 6am-9pm +50, 9pm-12pm +75 (+100 in Vic, Tas and WA)

[Guest_3Keiki_*]

Paramedics get loading and deserve it too.... everything wigglemama said