WATERCOOLER: Sunday rates move long overdue

ALL THE large shopping centres open and businesses in the hospitality, entertainment and retail industries trade like it is any other day of the week.

WITH every year that passes, Sunday penalty rates appear more outdated.

Sunday trade is no longer an anomaly. All the large shopping centres open and businesses in the hospitality, entertainment and retail industries trade like it is any other day of the week.

This puts undue pressure on small businesses.

If they choose to close on Sundays, they risk losing customers to those that stay open

But if they take the risk and open, they are often left out of pocket because of the additional staff costs.
 

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Small business deserves the chance to compete with the major, multinational chains that have no problem paying staff extra on Sundays.

The Productivity Commission this week called for Sunday rates to be brought into line with Saturday's time-and-a-half payments.

There would hardly be a small business owner out there who wouldn't be in favour of what is a long overdue move towards a more level playing field.

Originally published as WATERCOOLER: Sunday rates move long overdue