Woolworths, Australia’s leading supermarket chain, has recently become the latest employer to allow staff the choice of whether they would like to work on the Australian Day public holiday on January 26 or take the day off on another day.
This decision comes in response to the controversy surrounding January 26th, the traditional day for celebrating Australia Day.
The day has become increasingly problematic for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who view it as a reminder of the ongoing injustices that their communities face. In recent years, there have been numerous calls to move the national holiday to a day that is more culturally sensitive.
Approximately 160,000 Woolworths employees now have the choice to work on the day commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet and the colonisation of the country, or to take another day off instead; something that many First Nations people consider to be significant.
A spokesperson for Woolworths informed NCA NewsWire that their stores will still be open on the 26th, thus making it a typical workday for many.
“Although it is a public holiday, working on this day is voluntary. Staff who do work will be compensated with penalty rates or receive time off at a later date, in accordance with the conditions of their job, enterprise agreement, or award,” they said.
