Roster RightPay public holidays correctly without paying more than you need to
We help you define a fair "otherwise working day" policy and automate eligibility decisions so you pay time-and-a-half to those who work—and day-in-lieu only when it's truly owed.
The biggest headache isn't the rate (time-and-a-half)—it's deciding who actually earns a day-in-lieu. Many businesses give everyone who worked the day-in-lieu by default to avoid admin risk, which quietly doubles costs.
Why "otherwise working day" is so tricky
The law says an alternative holiday is owed only if the public holiday would otherwise have been a working day for the employee—but in flexible and rostered environments, this can be hard to prove and even harder to operationalise.
Operational risk: Over-pay and you erode margins; under-pay and you risk arrears, penalties, and reputational harm.
MBIE guidance highlights the need to apply the full factors in good faith—but gives little practical guidance on how to do this at scale.
Our solution: Define, agree, and automate
We work with you to codify a fair, defensible "otherwise working day" policy that reflects your roster reality but still aligns with MBIE's multi-factor test.
How eligibility decisions work in the tool
Ready to automate your public holiday calculations?
What your team gets
Accuracy & compliance, cost control without underpaying, and faster payroll cut-offs with audit-ready evidence.
Typical Results
Accuracy & compliance: Your rules align with the Holidays Act and MBIE guidance, showing considered use of all relevant factors.
Cost control without underpaying: Avoid blanket day-in-lieu for everyone; target genuine entitlements.
Faster payroll cut-off: Eligibility decisions are algorithmic, consistent, and explainable.
Audit-ready evidence: Each decision carries a reason code and data points (roster, prior pattern, agreement clause).
Better employee trust: Clear policy, visible logic, and dispute-friendly audit trail support good-faith engagement.
💰 Cost Recovery Example
A single avoided unnecessary alternative holiday can cover the service cost at typical hourly rates. Most clients see ROI within the first public holiday.
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Most clients see ROI within the first public holiday
Example scenarios you can publish
See how the calculator handles real-world situations with clear, defensible decisions.
Want to see how these scenarios apply to your business?
Compliance corner
Our approach aligns with New Zealand employment law and MBIE guidance.
Our Compliance Approach
⚠️ Important: This is operational guidance only, not legal advice. We base eligibility decisions on your chosen benchmark and timecard data, aligned with MBIE guidance. Consult legal counsel for specific employment law questions.
Ready to Get Compliant?
Let's discuss how our solution fits your business needs
Choose Your Service Level
From simple automated processing to full workforce management consulting—we have the right solution for your business.
Best for: Small businesses wanting to automate public holiday compliance without complexity
Best for: Growing businesses needing automated compliance without manual intervention
Best for: 24/7 or multi-site operations needing full system integration
Not sure which tier is right for you?
Frequently Asked Questions
Still Have Questions?
Book a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your specific situation
Talk to Roster Right
Need help with rostering strategy, leave policy interpretation, or payroll data quality? Roster Right can help.