Sunday Hospitality Shift — Casual Rate or Sunday Rate?
Last updated: March 2026 · MA000009
Both — the casual rate and the Sunday rate are applied together, not as alternatives. This is the single most common misunderstanding about casual pay in hospitality. The 25% casual loading and the Sunday penalty rate are separate entitlements that both apply every Sunday. If you're being paid your ordinary casual rate on Sundays, you're being underpaid.
If you work casual Sunday shifts in hospitality — this applies to you.
The rule
For casual employees under the Hospitality Award (MA000009):
- The 25% casual loading is applied to the ordinary base rate to produce the casual hourly rate
- The Sunday penalty multiplier is then applied to the casual rate
Both apply. The casual rate is the starting point for the Sunday calculation — not an alternative to it.
Sunday casual rate at each level
| Level | Ordinary casual | Sunday casual |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $0.00/hr | $0.00/hr |
| Level 2 | $0.00/hr | $0.00/hr |
| Level 3 | $0.00/hr | $0.00/hr |
| Level 4 | $0.00/hr | $0.00/hr |
| Level 5 | $0.00/hr | $0.00/hr |
Rates effective 1 July 2025.
If your Sunday pay matches your ordinary casual rate rather than the Sunday casual rate, Check your Sunday shifts →
The maths
Level 2 example
- Base rate: $0.00/hr
- Casual loading (25%): +$0.00/hr = $0.00/hr (ordinary casual rate)
- Sunday penalty (1.4× the casual rate): $0.00/hr
Getting $0.00 on a Sunday means the Sunday penalty hasn't been applied. That's ~$0.00/hr missing on every Sunday shift.
What this costs you
The gap between the ordinary casual rate and the Sunday casual rate at Level 2 is approximately $0.00/hr. Working one 6-hour Sunday shift per week at the wrong rate: ~$0.00/week. Over 50 working weeks: ~$0.00/year — from a single shift type being underpaid.
What to check on your payslip
- Does a separate Sunday rate line appear for Sunday shifts?
- Is the Sunday rate higher than your ordinary casual rate?
- Does your Sunday rate match the table above for your level?
Frequently asked questions
My employer says my casual loading covers the Sunday premium — is that right?
No — and that claim is wrong. The 25% loading compensates for the absence of leave entitlements. It does not replace Sunday penalty rates, which are a separate and additional entitlement.
I've been paid the wrong Sunday rate for years — can I recover it?
Yes — up to 6 years under the Fair Work Act. If you work one Sunday per week, the cumulative shortfall can be very significant.
What's the Sunday rate for a permanent employee by comparison?
Lower than the casual Sunday rate. Permanent Level 2 Sunday = $0.00/hr vs casual Level 2 Sunday = $0.00/hr.
Don't guess — check exactly what your Sunday shifts should pay.
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General information only. Verify at fairwork.gov.au.