The information in this article doesn't apply to vehicle manufacturing employees. See When overtime applies in the Manufacturing Award for information on call backs for vehicle manufacturing employees.

Are there minimum payments that apply to call backs?

Yes.

Every time an employee is called back to work after leaving, they get paid at least:

• 4 hours at overtime rates, or
• 3 hours at overtime rates, if they need to be ready to be called back at any time.

The overtime rates are:

• for day workers and non-continuous shiftworkers - 150% of the ordinary hourly rate for the first 3 hours and 200% of the ordinary hourly rate after that
• for continuous shiftworkers - 200% of the ordinary hourly rate for the full period.

An employee doesn’t have to work for the full 3 or 4 hours to get paid the full amount.

What if an employee gets called back to work more than once?

Day workers and non-continuous shiftworkers

On the first call back, day workers and non-continuous shiftworkers are paid for 3 hours at 150% of the ordinary hourly rate. The fourth hour (and beyond) is paid at 200% of the ordinary hourly rate.

On the second call back (and any other call backs), the time the employee actually worked on the first call back will determine when they start getting paid 200% of the ordinary hourly rate.

Employees who’ve worked 2 hours on the first call back will only get 1 hour of the second call back paid at 150% of the ordinary hourly rate. Any hours after this will be paid at 200% of the ordinary hourly rate.

A new 4 hour minimum payment applies for each call back.

The rules are the same for an employee who needs to be ready to be called back, except that the minimum payment is 3 hours.

Example

Janis was called back to work twice after her shift finished. On both occasions, she worked for 1 hour and then went home.

Janis is paid 4 hours’ overtime for both call backs, even though she only worked for 1 hour each time. Her pay rates are:

• first call back: 3 hours at 150%, 1 hour at 200%
• second call back: 2 hours at 150%, 2 hours at 200%.

Continuous shiftworkers

Continuous shiftworkers are paid 200% of their ordinary hourly rate for all hours during each call back.