penalty rate

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penalty rate (plural penalty rates)

1. (Australia, industrial relations) A mandated minimum rate of pay which is higher than the usual minimum wage, paid to an employee when working on weekends, public holidays, overtime, late night shifts or early morning shifts.
   • 1929, Commonwealth arbitration reports, volume 28, page 550:

     It has been urged that the 50 per cent penalty rate ought not to be considered as forming part of the guaranteed earnings of guards and other employees who are compelled to work on Sundays, but that such employees ought to be paid the cash equivalent of such penalty time in addition to ...