All in a day's work: Labour Day on, Labour Day off...

Beach or work this Labour Day? Aucklanders spend a sunny Labour Weekend Sunday at Orewa Beach. Photo / Natalie Slade

Labour Day. Apparently a day to celebrate working people. And yet the irony is, many working people end up working on Labour Day. Think Labour Day sales!

I remember at University I wasn't a fan of Labour Day. While I had a part time job, I don't recall being offered the opportunity to work for time and a half and Labour Day just seemed like a holiday for everyone else, with the possibility of long awaited good weather, while I sat in the library studying for the upcoming end of year exams... Somewhere, I'm sure a violin was playing just for me...

As an employee, Labour Day is more attractive. It represents either a paid day off work (if it falls on a day that would otherwise be a working day). Alternatively, if you are required to work, the payment of time and a half for any hours worked, as well as the accrual of an entitlement to an alternative holiday (if the day would otherwise have been a working day, to replace the public holiday you have effectively missed out on).

Labour Day is one of the most anticipated public holidays. It has been a long stretch since Queen's birthday (back in June), the weather is improving with the arrival of spring and of course, daylight savings means longer days... it's easy to forget about the inevitable traffic jams as you plan to head out of your city to somewhere coastal and enjoy a day off.

So, what do you need to know for Labour Day (or indeed most public holidays)?

If you're an employee, make sure you're being paid correctly, whether you are required to work, or not.

Equally, if you are an employer, the onus is on you to make sure you are paying your staff correctly. That aside, employers should watch out for issues such as employees attempting to extend their long weekends with 'sick leave' either side of a public holiday.

Remember, if you have a genuine reason to suspect the sick leave being taken is not genuine, and you draw that to the employee's attention, you can request a medical certificate is provided.

Employers should also ensure that it is clear whether employees are required to work on a public holiday or not. If employees can use their discretion in relation to work hours, you may wish to specify that employees are not required to work on Labour Day unless prior approval to do so is granted, to avoid a claim for time and a half and an alternative holiday...

And for those employers who provide company vehicles to employees - is reasonable personal use required and does a trip to the beach constitute 'reasonable personal use'?

Was your business compliant with labour laws, this Labour Day?