Sunshine Coast businesses are facing a flurry of unexpected costs and staff challenges due to the National Day of Mourning public holiday, plus potential staff “sickies” on Friday.
The sudden public holiday, called at short notice by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, has had unintended consequences.
Businesses are dealing with issues such as having to cancel customers’ booked services, penalty rates for staff who are working on the day, and general loss of trade.
And with the public holiday being on a Thursday, concern has also been raised about the number of staff who may choose to take a ‘sickie’ on the Friday, to effectively create a four-day weekend. Experts suggest sick days cost about $354 per worker per day.
Essential services workers and others with children must re-organise childcare arrangements due to the public holiday as centres are likely to be closed for the day, and many health services will be disrupted.
Some businesses, including mechanics, have reportedly had to cancel customers’ bookings.
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said he supported the holiday to honour the 70 years of service by the Queen, adding “we will never see another monarch quite like her”.
“I believe the Prime Minister has acted respectfully and appropriately,” Mr Wallace said.
“This one-off public holiday does not come without an impact on our small businesses. I encourage everyone to continue their support of Sunshine Coast businesses – to shop local, stay local and play local.”
The Australian Medical Association Queensland branch suggested the holiday could trigger at least 5000 surgery cancellations.
“The number of elected surgeries that happen in Australia are about 10,000 on a weekday. So, I guess 5000. It’s just an estimate,” Dr Maria Boulton, the AMA Queensland president, said.
“We know that the hospital system was already stretched prior to this week. It was already stretched prior to COVID. So, there is a backlog to get through and that is why people who are going to be cancelled (and) where are they going to fit in that backlog?”
One Gold Coast law firm suggested the Federal Government should pay $5000 compensation to each small business for the “financial stress” and inconvenience generated by the sudden holiday, which it noted also came on the tail of the financial hardships of COVID and border closures.
“The National Day of Mourning is understandable, but it’s been scheduled before businesses have been able to prepare for it. This in no way disrespects Her Majesty,” said lawyer Bruce Simmonds of the compensation suggestion.
“A government grant to help these businesses through the unexpected but significant day is the way to go.”
Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien MP responded that “gazetted national public holidays are a matter for the Prime Minister”.
“Honouring Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is important. She led a remarkable life; a selfless life of unflagging service, humility and faith,” he said.
“I understand the concerns of the many small businesses across Fairfax that will be impacted by public holiday penalty rates as a result of this decision, and any calls for compensation should be directed to Prime Minister Albanese’s office.”
Sunshine Coast News has requested a response from the Prime Minister’s office.
Meantime, local businesses may also be pre-empting reduced staff numbers on Friday.
Research by Finder suggests the timing of the holiday on a Thursday leaves many people “to believe attendance at work on Friday will be poor”.
“Workers are trying to take advantage of the bonus public holiday by turning it into an extra-long weekend,” Taylor Blackburn, of Finder, said.
The company suggested, however, that “chucking a sickie this Friday could cost the nation $461 million in lost productivity”.
Finder noted that 1.7 million workers have chucked a sickie this year, and that calling in sick costs about $354 per worker per day.
The most popular reasons for sickies include: to go to the beach (2 per cent); gambling (2 per cent); shopping (4 per cent); taking care of a pet (4 per cent); taking care of a sick family member (11 per cent); or to have a mental health day (16 per cent).
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