New Zealand's Labour Day commemorating the eight-hour work day, is observed on Monday the 23rd October this year (2017).
If your Employee works on any part of a Public Holiday, the Employee must be paid time and a half for the actual hours worked.
If the Employee works on a public holiday and that day would be the Employee's normal day of work, then in addition to payment for the hours at 'time and a half', the Employee is also entitled to an alternative holiday (day in lieu), which when taken should be paid at the Employee's relevant daily pay.
If the Employee does not work on a Public Holiday and the Employee was not due to work that day, then the Employee is not entitled to any payment for that day and is not entitled to an alternative holiday.
The Employer can require an Employee to work on a Public Holiday if the Public Holiday falls on a day that would normally be a working day for that Employee, and providing the Employee can be required to work on a Public Holiday under their employment agreement.
For further information on Public Holidays, definitions and calculations of Relevant Daily Pay please see our eBook on Annual Holidays & Leave.
This is available to download from the Library section of our Employers Toolbox for members, or purchase online here for others.