Do my work have to pay me?

This may not even be a question appropriate for this, but I work as a receptionist as a casual, but have been with a company nearly 4 years with set 2 days each week. I had been asked over 2 months in advance about working extra shifts while the other receptionist was on leave and was very pressured into giving an answer as soon as possible. I chose to work majority of the 5 weeks. Just last week an email was sent around saying for the first time ever the business was going to be closed the 3 following days after the news years and xmas public holidays and the building would be manned with only a few shadow staff. I only found out on friday that reception would not be needed and I had been planned to work 2 out of those 3 days. For those 3 days staff would be paid though not working and those who were working would get an extra 3 days, those who had taken leave got those days back as well. It was a gesture of 'thank you' from our CEO for all our hard work all year. I asked my manager if I would be getting paid for those 2 days who said she didn't think so and would ask HR. She came back and said because I'm casual I wouldn't get the pay, incredibly unhappy with this because I could no longer go away for new years or anything like that because I was nice enough to committ to the extra work for them, I went and saw HR myself who agreed that I wasn't an ordinary casual as I have permanent shifts and that she would take it up with one of our executive managers. She got back to me and told me that they had decided a streamline rule for all casuals and they were going to follow that (there is only 1 other casual in my building). As they had request a commitment from me a long time prior to finding this out, do I have any ground for saying that they have to pay me as they have now decided to close the building for the day and I'm not required as I have had to make all my arrangements and committments around that? Thanks Heaps

Bob R	No, your employer has no obligation to pay you for these days.

KateG	Well, your status is still that you are a casual employee, you do not have a permanent full-time schedule, it is only temporary, so your employment status remains unchanged. The benefits for full-time employees sadly would not apply to you at all, and it was at least kind for them to check for you, but you are not entitled to them, sorry. No, you do not have any grounds to stand on, and you should simply drop the matter. It would have been nice of them to do that for you, but they have no obligation at all.

Dean	morally they should pay you since they ask you to work those days. But, legally you have to be considered full time to get holiday pay.