Split Shifts in Hospitality — Am I Being Paid for the Break?
Last updated: March 2026 · MA000009
No — you shouldn't be paid for the break itself, but you should be receiving a split shift allowance. If your working day is broken into two separate periods with an unpaid gap between them, the Hospitality Award entitles permanent and part-time employees to an additional allowance on top of their hourly rate. Most employers never pay it.
If you work split shifts in any hospitality venue as a permanent or part-time employee — this applies to you.
The rule
Under the Hospitality Award (MA000009), a split shift allowance applies when your working day is broken into two or more separate periods with an unpaid gap:
- Split shift allowance: $0.00/day
This allowance applies to permanent and part-time employees only — casual employees are not entitled to it.
What you should be paid
Example: Permanent waitstaff, Level 2. Works 10am–2pm, 3-hour break, then 5pm–9pm — 5 days a week.
- Hourly rate applies for both working periods as normal
- Split shift allowance: $0.00/day × 5 days = $0.00/week
- Over 50 working weeks: $0.00/year in allowances owed
If no split shift allowance appears on your payslip and you regularly work this pattern, Check if your split shift allowance is missing →
What this costs you
The split shift allowance is $0.00/day. Working 5 split shifts per week: ~$0.00/week. Over 50 working weeks: ~$0.00/year — money that should appear on every payslip and almost never does.
What to check on your payslip
- Is there a split shift allowance line for each day you worked a broken shift?
- Does the allowance amount match ($0.00/day)?
Frequently asked questions
I'm casual — do I get the split shift allowance?
No. The split shift allowance applies to permanent and part-time employees only. Casual employees do not receive it.
My breaks are sometimes shorter than 2 hours — does the allowance still apply?
The allowance applies when the unpaid break is 2 hours or longer. Breaks shorter than 2 hours don't trigger it.
My employer says the break is a meal break — does that change anything?
A meal break during a continuous shift is different from a split shift. The allowance applies when you leave the workplace entirely and return for a separate work period, not when you take a break mid-shift.
Don't guess — check what you're owed.
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General information only. Verify at fairwork.gov.au.