Casual Late Nights in Hospitality — Am I Being Paid Correctly?
Last updated: March 2026 · MA000009
Probably not. Late night shifts are one of the most frequently under-compensated shift types in hospitality. The Hospitality Award adds a loading for work after 7pm and a higher loading after midnight — on top of your casual rate and any weekend rate that applies. Most employers pay one flat rate for the whole shift.
If you regularly work casual shifts finishing after 10pm, midnight, or later — this applies to you.
The rule
Under the Hospitality Award (MA000009), adult employees are entitled to additional loadings on top of their base or casual rate:
- Evening work (7pm–midnight): +$0.00/hr on top of the applicable rate
- Late night work (midnight–7am): +$0.00/hr on top of the applicable rate
These loadings stack on top of whatever day rate applies. A Saturday night shift running past midnight attracts the Saturday casual rate plus the evening loading plus (from midnight) the late-night loading.
What you should be paid
Example: Casual bar attendant, Level 2. Shift runs 7pm–2am on a Saturday.
- 7pm–midnight: Saturday casual rate ($0.00/hr) + evening loading ($0.00/hr) = $0.00/hr
- Midnight–2am: Sunday casual rate ($0.00/hr) + late-night loading ($0.00/hr) = $0.00/hr
If you're being paid $0.00/hr for that whole shift, the shortfall is significant.
If your late night rate looks the same as your afternoon rate, Check your late-night shifts →
What this costs you
A shift from 9pm to 2am has two rate periods — evening loading (9pm–midnight) and late-night loading (midnight–2am) — on top of the applicable day rate. If you're being paid a flat casual rate for the whole shift, the missed loading across 3 late nights per week adds up to approximately $60–$100/week. Over a year: ~$3,000–$5,000 in missed loadings.
What to check on your payslip
- Do separate lines appear for evening or late-night hours?
- Does the rate change at midnight when the day changes?
- Is one flat casual rate applied for the entire shift?
Frequently asked questions
Do the evening/late-night loadings apply on weekdays too?
Yes. The loadings apply on any day of the week — weekday evenings and late nights attract the loading just as weekend shifts do.
I finish at 11:30pm — does the late-night loading still apply?
No — the late-night loading begins at midnight. Work between 7pm and midnight attracts the evening loading only.
Can my employer pay a flat rate that covers these loadings?
Only if the flat rate demonstrably exceeds the highest possible rate combination across all shifts. For late weekend nights, that's a high bar.
Don't guess — enter your actual shifts and check.
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General information only — not legal advice. Verify at fairwork.gov.au.