Working Split Shifts in a Restaurant — Where's My Allowance?
Last updated: March 2026 · MA000119
If you work morning and evening service with an unpaid break in between, you're owed a split shift allowance for every qualifying day. This is one of the most commonly missed allowances under the Restaurant Industry Award.
If you regularly work split shifts — check whether the allowance is on your payslip.
The rule
Under the Restaurant Industry Award (MA000119):
- A split shift allowance is payable per shift for permanent and part-time employees
- Applies when the employee works two separate periods of work in one day with an unpaid break between them
- Each work period must be at least 2 hours
- Casual employees are not entitled to this allowance
What you should be paid
Split shift allowance example
- Split shift allowance: $5.34 per qualifying shift
- 5 split shifts per week × 50 weeks = 250 qualifying shifts per year
- Annual total: $1,335.00/year that's often completely missed
That's $26.70/week for a full-time worker doing daily split shifts. Many restaurant workers doing lunch and dinner service every day never see this allowance on their payslip.
Rates based on the Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000119, effective 1 July 2025.
What this costs you
The split shift allowance is payable every qualifying day. At $5.34 per shift, a full-time worker doing 5 split shifts per week over 50 weeks is owed $1,335.00/year. Over 3 years without the allowance: $4,005.00 in back-pay — money that most workers never realise they're owed.
What to check on your payslip
- Is there a separate line item for "split shift allowance"?
- Does it appear on every day you worked a split shift?
- Are you permanent or part-time? (casuals are not eligible)
Frequently asked questions
Do casual employees get the split shift allowance?
No. The split shift allowance under the Restaurant Award applies to permanent (full-time) and part-time employees only. Casuals are not entitled to this allowance.
My break between shifts is 90 minutes — do I qualify?
Each work period within the split shift must be at least 2 hours. The allowance applies when you work two separate periods (e.g., lunch service and dinner service) with an unpaid break between them, provided each period meets the minimum duration.
I've worked split shifts for 3 years with no allowance — can I claim it back?
Yes. You can claim unpaid split shift allowances for up to 6 years under the Fair Work Act. Three years of daily split shifts at $5.34/shift adds up to roughly $4,005.00.
Working split shifts? Make sure you're getting everything you're owed.
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General information only. Verify at fairwork.gov.au.