Pay periods and roster cycles in the Pharmacy Award

A full-time employee’s hours of work can be rostered to be an average of:

  • 38 hours per week, or
  • 76 hours over two weeks.

A roster cycle generally coincides with the pay period. However, a workplace can roster fortnightly and pay weekly.

Full-time employees

When a workplace rosters fortnightly but pays weekly, a full-time employee gets paid at least their 38 ordinary hours in the first pay period, regardless of the actual number of hours worked.

Ordinary hours are reconciled in the second pay period. Overtime worked in excess of 76 hours in the fortnight is paid in the second pay period.

All other overtime entitlements are paid in the pay period that the overtime hours are worked.

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