When the clock jumps, what happens to your pay?

It’s nearly the most (arguably) wonderful time of the year!

No, not Christmas, yet (although it is fast approaching. Wasn’t it just Easter?). It’s the weekend when daylight saving begins!

Granted, it’s not everybody’s favourite – but it does give about 18 million Australians an extra hour of afternoon daylight, teasing that warmer, longer summer evenings are on the way.

But what if you’re on the job when the change happens?

One, two, three o’clock, four o’clock rock

Not all of Australia observes daylight saving: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory do; Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not.

For those states and territories that do have daylight saving, the changes generally occur early on a Sunday morning, to minimise disruption to work, school and public transport. Usually daylight saving starts on the first weekend in October, and ends on the first weekend in April.

When daylight saving starts, the local time goes forward an hour, at 2am. This year, daylight saving will start this Sunday, 5 October 2025 – which means that after 1.59am, the clock jumps forward to 3.00am in NSW, VIC, SA, TAS and ACT.

On the other hand, when daylight saving ends, the local time goes back an hour, at 3am. Next year, daylight saving will end on Sunday, 5 April 2026 – which means that after 2.59am, the clock jumps back to 2.00am, in all states and territories other than QLD, WA and NT.

Shift work: know what you’re owed

Across Australia, there are heaps of workers in a range of industries, who are on night shifts when the clock changes.

If that’s you, the first place you should check is your agreement or award for any terms about daylight saving. Sometimes, union members may have negotiated that workers can’t be disadvantaged in pay by the time changes (this only becomes an issue when the clock goes back an hour at the end of daylight saving, and you may work an extra hour with no extra pay).

If they don’t mention anything, payment is generally made ‘by the clock’.

That means that if you’re rostered on when daylight saving begins this Sunday, you work one hour less but are paid for the full shift.

(And if you’re rostered on when daylight saving ends, you work one hour more but are paid for the original rostered hours.)

For example…

Let’s say you’re working an 8 hour shift from 10pm on Saturday. During your shift, daylight saving is going to start, and the clock will go forward an hour.

When you finish your shift at 6am on Sunday, you will have only worked for 7 hours – but you’ll be paid for 8 hours of work.

(But if you’re working the same shift in April next year when daylight saving ends, you’ll actually work for 9 hours, and only be paid for 8 hours.)

Note! Penalty rates will also usually be paid ‘by the clock’ too, unless your award or agreement provides otherwise. Don’t forget about overtime and any other entitlements too.

Know your rights around the clock

If you’re confused about your shift over the start or end of daylight saving – or if you think you’ve not been paid correctly – your union is the first place to turn for info, advice and support about what to do.

Not a member of your union? Don’t be left in the dark: union power is always in season. Join us!