Cleaning Award — Overtime Rates
Last updated: March 2026
Overtime is paid when you work beyond your ordinary hours. Most awards use a two-tier system: time-and-a-half for the first 2 hours, then double-time after that.
Overtime thresholds
| Trigger | First 2 hours | After 2 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Daily (over 7.6 hours) | ×1.5 | ×2.0 |
| Weekly (over 38 hours) | ×1.5 | ×2.0 |
Time off in lieu (TOIL)
Some awards allow employers and employees to agree to take time off instead of being paid overtime. TOIL must be agreed in writing and taken at the overtime rate — for example, 1 hour of overtime at time-and-a-half equals 1.5 hours of TOIL.
See also: Penalty rates | Full pay rate tables | Overtime pay guide
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman — overtime. Overtime thresholds and rates are set by the applicable modern award and the Fair Work Act 2009.
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