Your Rights As a Worker

Starting a new job can be can an exciting experience but it can also be a scary one. It is important that you have a good understanding of your rights as an employee in the Australian workforce. Your rights change depending on the type of employment

As an employee in Australia in the National Workplace System you are entitled to certain standards of employment. You have the following minimum entitlements:

• Maximum weekly hours of work
• Requests for flexible working arrangements
• Parental leave and related entitlements
• Annual leave
• Personal / carer’s leave and compassionate leave
• Community service leave
• Long service leave
• Public holidays
• Notice of termination and redundancy pay
• Provision of a Fair Work Information Statement

If you are an Australian casual employee you are entitled to certain standards of employment, which do alter slightly. You have the following minimum entitlements:

• Two days unpaid carer’s leave and two days unpaid compassionate leave per occasion
• Maximum weekly hours
• Community service leave (except paid jury service)
• To have a day off on a public holiday, unless reasonably requested to work by the employer
• Provision of the Fair Work Information Statement.

In addition, casual employees who have been employed for at least 12 months by an employer on a regular and systematic basis and with an expectation of ongoing employment are entitled to:

• Make requests for flexible working arrangements
• Parental leave.