Calista begins to worry when she realises Waitangi Day falls on a Saturday (for employees who don’t work weekends, this public holiday will be treated as falling on the following Monday).
She feels she can’t afford to pay her regular Saturday employees time and a half, plus an alternative holiday.
But she knows it’s illegal to not roster regularly scheduled employees to avoid their holiday entitlements.
Calista calls a meeting with employees to talk about the Waitangi Day roster. She doesn’t ask them to take the day off, but instead asks for thoughts or requests.
Two of her regular Saturday employees ask for that day off – one to go to a Waitangi commemorative festival, the other because family will be visiting for the long weekend.
Calista changes the roster, and pays these two workers public holiday pay for Waitangi Day.
They’re happy to have the time off to mark the day, or to spend time with relatives, and Calista is relieved to have reduced her holiday weekend wage costs.