The Easter long weekend is a big deal on the Australian calendar. The four-day break, from Good Friday to Easter Monday, is something most of us look forward to — after all, it’s four whole days off! But as Australia becomes more multicultural and religiously diverse, it’s worth asking: Should one religion’s traditions still dictate the business calendar for everyone?
Let’s look at the numbers.
In the 2021 Census, 43.9% of Australians identified as Christian, while 38.9% said they had “no religion.”
Add to that the growing number of people from other faiths and spiritual beliefs, and you’ve got a picture of a nation that’s changing. It might be time to rethink how public holidays work — balancing tradition, fairness, and inclusivity.
The Easter Break Can Break the Bank
Public holidays aren’t cheap. Industries like retail, hospitality and health have to manage penalty rates and higher costs across the Easter long weekend, and for smaller businesses, this can be a tough pill to swallow.
What about employees who don’t celebrate Easter or other religious holidays? A public holiday system that mandates leave may increase the sense of exclusion, create costs for time away, and cause them to miss important dates that matter to them.
The big question for workplaces is: Do public holidays need to be set in stone, or is there a better way?
Public Holidays That Work for Everyone
Many public holidays are tied to specific religious events, like Easter or Christmas — but times have changed. Australia is diverse, and the way we structure public holidays might need to change to reflect that diversity.
A simple option? Make leave, including public holidays, flexible. Give employees the freedom to choose when they take their time off, instead of mandating it. This way, people can celebrate the days that matter to them — whether that’s Ramadan, Diwali, Lunar New Year, or something else entirely.
Flexible leave lets people take time off for family, personal needs, or even just to recharge.
Let’s be clear — we aren’t talking about scrapping Easter altogether. Easter is still culturally significant for many Australians, whether for religious or secular reasons. The idea is to strike a balance — keeping the option of an Easter break while also offering flexibility for those who don’t observe it.
Workplaces can also use this as an opportunity to celebrate diversity. Recognising Easter can be part of a broader effort to highlight other cultural and religious holidays. It’s about making space for everyone.
Easter will always be an important part of Australian culture, but as we move forward, it might be time to let go of the idea that one tradition should shape the calendar for all. Inclusivity and flexibility are the keys to creating public holidays that truly work for everyone.
Let’s make sure our workplaces celebrate all of us — not just some of us. It’s better for our teams, our businesses, and our communities.
