Reduction in Public Holiday and Sunday Penalty Rates: Arguments and Ethical Perspectives

Case study

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................3
Main arguments for and against the reduction in public holiday and Sunday penalty rate for
different sectors.............................................................................................................................3
How decision of Fair Work Commission have been viewd from consequentialism and
deontology theory ?.......................................................................................................................4
Adopting either consequentialism or deontology perspective in context of the Fair Work
Commission...................................................................................................................................5
...........................................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Penalty rate is refer to a higher pay rate and additional allowance. In this, employees
covered by an enterprise agreement, registered agreement and awards may be entitled to penalty
rates when working on public holidays, weekends and overtime, late night or early in the morning
(Anner, 2022). This report will cover the concept of penalty rates, argument for the education of
Sunday penalty rates for different sectors, ethical view for the decision of penalty rates,
consequently and deontology perspective for Fair Work Commission.
Main arguments for and against the reduction in public holiday and Sunday penalty rate for
different sectors
Since penalty rates changes were first declared on 23rd February, employees and employer
have been left in the limbo as by what percentage the penalty rates would be decrease. Therefore,
there are some argument for and against in cut in Sunday and public holiday penalty rate for
hospitality, retail, food and other sectors.
Arguments for changes
 More hospitality organisation will become able to operate on the Sunday.
 Changes in the lifestyle and technology mean people now live in more 24/7 world, where
customer expectation are very greater.
 It will provide better customer experience with more staff or workforce and availability of
the hospitality and entertainment venues.
 Business would earn more revenue from increased opening hours and the increased staff
levels.
 It will allow the employer to recruit or hire more staff (Fraser, 2022).
Who wanted changes?
 Productivity commission- As per them, penalty rates have legitimate rile in to
compensate workers for the long working hours.
 Small businesses- They argue that these businesses can not open on Public holiday or
Sunday due to high cost of the wages for workers.