Peninsula Australia answers over 1,700 HR calls during festive season

Sydney, Australia | 15 January 2026

While many businesses slowed down for the holidays, Peninsula was on call to keep workplaces running smoothly. Between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, Peninsula Australia answered 1,751 calls and responded to 1,417 queries, ensuring employers had expert guidance during one of the busiest times of the year.

Call Volume Breakdown

The breakdown of calls highlights the pressure businesses faced during the holiday period:

• Christmas Eve: 322 calls

• Christmas Day: 5 calls

• Boxing Day: 37 calls

• New Year’s Eve: 339 calls

• New Year’s Day: 27 calls

Healthcare and medical businesses accounted for the highest number of calls (677), followed by administration (130) and trades (125).

Key Issues Raised

The most common concerns included:

• Employee entitlements: 482 queries

• Conduct concerns: 278 queries

• Documentation requirements: 278 queries

These issues are particularly critical for industries that operate through the holidays.

Holiday HR Challenges Explained

These queries reflect the complex challenges businesses face during peak holiday periods:

• Entitlements:
  Employers must navigate public holiday pay, penalty rates, and annual leave rules under their relevant Modern Award, Employment Agreement, and the National Employment Standards. Mistakes can lead to costly compliance breaches and potential underpayments.

• Conduct:
  End-of-year celebrations and remote work arrangements can increase the risk of inappropriate behaviour and policy breaches. If not managed correctly, these issues may escalate into legal disputes.

• Documentation:
  Accurate record-keeping for leave, incidents, and pay entitlements—including reasons an employee is entitled to certain penalties or allowances—is essential for compliance. These records must be readily accessible to Fair Work Inspectors in the event of an investigation.

Peninsula remains committed to being a trusted partner for employers, providing expert advice whenever it’s needed—even during the busiest times of the year.