Agreed upon working hours
In Australia, employers generally have the right to change an employee's working hours, but there are some important considerations and protections in place for employees.
Employment contract
If your employment contract specifies certain working hours, any changes made by your employer would typically need to be agreed upon by both parties unless the contract allows for changes under specific circumstances.
Award or enterprise agreement
Many employees in Australia are covered by an award or enterprise agreement that outlines their minimum entitlements, including working hours. Changes to working hours must comply with the terms of the relevant award or agreement.
Consultation & notice
Employers are generally required to consult with employees before making significant changes to working hours. This consultation should involve discussing the reasons for the change, any potential impacts, and possible alternatives. Additionally, employers are usually required to provide reasonable notice of any changes to working hours.
Fair Work Act
The Fair Work Act 2009 sets out various rights and protections for employees, including provisions related to changes in working arrangements. Under certain circumstances, employees have the right to request flexible working arrangements, such as changes to their hours of work, and employers must consider these requests in good faith.
Unfair dismissal protections
In some cases, changes to working hours could be considered a significant change to employment conditions. If an employee believes that a change to their working hours is unfair, they may have recourse under unfair dismissal laws.
If you're unsure about your rights regarding changes to your working hours, it's advisable to consult with a legal expert or a relevant authority such as the Fair Work Ombudsman for specific advice tailored to your situation.
Are you looking for a job?
Now that you know whether your employer can change your working hours in Australia, you should take a moment to check our current vacancies page.
At 11 Recruitment, we have a range of white-collar temp and perm jobs available. We're always on the lookout for top talent to place with our clients, so we encourage you to apply for any positions that are of interest.
If none of our current vacancies are right for you, you should register for job alerts. Then we’ll be able to notify you when we receive a position that matches your profile.
