General information only — not legal advice. First speak with your employer, then if unsuccessful contact Fair Work or an employment lawyer.
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Working Extra Hours Cleaning and Not Getting Overtime

Last updated: April 2026 · MA000022

Cleaning companies routinely avoid paying overtime by not recording extra hours. You stay an extra 30 minutes to finish a building. You travel between sites on your own time. You come in on your day off because someone called in sick. None of it shows up as overtime on your payslip — if you even get a payslip.

Under the Cleaning Services Award, overtime is payable after 7.6 hours per day or 38 hours per week. First 2 hours at 1.5×, then 2×.

The rule

  • Full-time: overtime after 7.6 hours/day or 38 hours/week
  • Part-time: overtime after agreed daily or weekly hours
  • First 2 hours: 1.5× base rate
  • After 2 hours: 2× base rate
  • Sunday overtime: 2× for all hours

Worked example

Scenario: Full-time cleaner, Level 1 (~$25.85/hr base). Works 5 days at 8.5 hours each (42.5 hours/week). Employer pays straight time for all hours.

What they pay: 42.5 × $25.85 = $1,098.63

Correct calculation: 38 hours × $25.85 = $982.30. Plus 2 hours × $38.78 (1.5×) = $77.55. Plus 2.5 hours × $51.70 (2×) = $129.25.

Should be: $1,189.10. Getting $1,098.63. Underpaid $90.48/week — $4,704.70/year.

What to check

  • Add up your actual hours for the week, including travel between sites
  • Check if any day exceeds 7.6 hours
  • Look for a separate overtime line on your payslip
  • If you work extra shifts at short notice, verify those are recorded and paid as overtime

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Frequently asked questions

I clean multiple sites in one day — does travel time count toward overtime?

If your employer directs you to travel between cleaning sites during a shift, that travel time is work time. It counts toward your daily and weekly hours. If it pushes you past 7.6 hours in a day or 38 hours in a week, those extra hours are overtime.

My employer says cleaners don't get overtime because shifts are short — is that right?

If your individual shifts are short but you work enough shifts to exceed 38 hours in a week, you're entitled to overtime for the hours beyond 38. It doesn't matter that each shift was under 7.6 hours. Weekly overtime still applies.

I'm a part-time cleaner — when does my overtime start?

For part-time cleaners, overtime starts when you work beyond your agreed ordinary hours for the day or the week. If your contract says 4 hours on Monday and you work 5, that extra hour is overtime at penalty rates. You don't need to reach 38 hours.

General information only — not legal advice. Verify at fairwork.gov.au.