Crown Solicitor’s Office: Information on overtime and meal allowances
Not sure if you should be paid overtime? Are you entitled to a meal allowance?
The Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Review Award 2009 (Conditions Award), SECTION 8 – SHIFT WORK AND OVERTIME contains the provisions for when overtime and a meal allowance should be paid.
Click HERE to view the Conditions Award. These provisions apply to all employees who are covered the Conditions Award. Entitlement to these provisions is not subject to different interpretation by individual Managers and should be clearly explained to employees on request.
Meal allowance
You are entitled to a meal allowance while working overtime if the following conditions apply:
- Overtime Meal Allowances
94.1 If an adequate meal is not provided by the Department, a meal allowance will be paid by the Department at the appropriate rate specified in Item 19 of Table 1 – Allowances of Part B, Monetary Rates, provided the Department Head is satisfied that:
94.1.1 the time worked is directed overtime;
94.1.2 the employee properly and reasonably incurred expenditure in obtaining the meal in respect of which the allowance is sought;
94.1.3 where the employee was able to cease duty for at least 30 minutes before or during the working of overtime to take the meal, the employee did so; and
94.1.4 overtime is not being paid in respect of the time taken for a meal break.
If you think you have not been paid correctly email Sharny Chalmers at or call her on 1800 772 679.