With public holidays popping up all over the place, it’s easy to get caught up in last-minute calculations and confusion over who gets paid what. 

Sound familiar? 

You’re not alone. Many South African business owners and payroll teams find themselves scrambling to make sense of public holiday pay and overtime rules this time of year. So, before things get complicated, let’s break it down—plain and simple. 

Quick Look: April’s Public Holidays 

Here’s what you’re working with: Good Friday falls on April 18, followed by Family Day on April 21. Then we’ve got Freedom Day on April 27, which is a Sunday this year—so it’ll be officially observed on Monday, April 28. And just around the corner, May 1 is Workers’ Day, which also needs to be factored into your April payroll planning. 

Public Holiday Pay—What’s the Deal? 

South African labour law is pretty clear on public holiday pay. If your employee doesn’t work on a public holiday, you still need to pay them their usual daily wage. But if they do work, they’re entitled to double pay—that’s twice their normal rate. 

For example, if your employee earns R300 a day and works on Freedom Day, they should earn R600 for that shift. Simple as that. 

Just a heads-up: if you’ve got a written agreement in place that says something different, it still has to meet the legal minimums.  

How Overtime and Holidays Mix 

Here’s where things can get a little trickier. Overtime—on a regular workday—is usually paid at 1.5 times the normal rate. But when that overtime falls on a public holiday, you’ve got to be extra careful. The employee may still be entitled to double pay, depending on the hours worked and what your agreement says. 

And just to clarify, you shouldn’t double up on multipliers unless it’s clearly laid out in a legal agreement. If someone works overtime on a public holiday, make sure it’s clear whether they’re getting double time, time-and-a-half, or some other arrangement.  

Your April Payroll Game Plan 

April’s packed calendar makes it really important to stay ahead of payroll. If employees are taking leave around the holidays or picking up extra shifts, you need to make sure your hours and leave days are logged correctly. Waiting until payday to figure it out can be risky.  

Communication is also key. Let your team know what to expect with pay—especially if they’re working on a holiday. It avoids confusion, keeps everyone happy, and saves you from those awkward “Why is my payslip wrong?” conversations. 

And if you’re still trying to do all this manually, now might be the time to rethink your setup.  

Let Payroll Software Do the Heavy Lifting 

Let’s face it—payroll can get complicated fast, especially around public holidays and overtime. With Quick Payroll, you can simplify the process. The software automatically applies holiday rates, tracks hours worked, and handles overtime calculations and payslip accuracy. It ensures compliance with labour laws, saving you time, reducing errors, and giving you peace of mind—especially during busy months like April. 

Ready to streamline your payroll and avoid the stress of public holiday calculations? Book a demo for Quick Payroll Software today and discover how easy payroll can be.