[ChunkyChook]

Back in the day when I was in factory work we could do overtime on weekends but it had to be a minimum of 4 hours because apparently it was the law, you must be paid a minimum of 4 hours. So they said that was the minimum hours we could work. Fair enough. But I was full time.

Fast forward 12 years, I am casual and I have been given a 2.5 hour shift......... is it even legal?
Could I have signed my work contract to allow this? Can they give casuals 1 hour shifts if they want?

[jayskette]

the minimum has been reduced to just 3 hours recently. I don't think 2.5 is legal.

[elizabethany]

Maximum and minimum daily ordinary hours

You can roster your retail employees to work up to a maximum of 9 ordinary hours of work on any day, and for one day per week a retail employee can be rostered for 11 hours. Part-time employees and most casual employees must work (or be paid for) a minimum of 3 hours per shift.
Example

Paul is a full-time shoe repairer working at Soles 'N' More. Paul works 38 hours per week as follows:
Monday - 4 hours
Tuesday - 5 hours
Wednesday - 9 hours
Thursday - 9 hours
Friday - 11 hours
Total = 38 hours

Paul is entitled to ordinary rates of pay and doesn’t receive any overtime for working 11 hours on Fridays.
Minimum hours for casual high school students

Casual high school students can work for a minimum of 1.5 hours so that they can work after school.

The minimum hours of work for casual high school students can only be 1.5 hours (instead of 3 hours) if all of the following apply:

the employee is a full-time secondary school student
the work is between 3.00pm and 6.30pm on a school day
the employee and their parent/guardian agree to the shorter period of work, and
working for 3 hours or more is not possible, either because of the operational requirements of the business or the employee is not available for a longer shift.

If any of these don’t apply, the minimum hours of work for a casual high school student is 3 hours.

From Retail Award - Fair Work Australia

Basically, unless you are are high school student, the minimum shift payable (not worked) is 3 hours.

[Aribika]

It depends what award you are under. I'm pretty sure that cleaners at my previous job could do a minimum 2 hour shift.

Lorraine

[Above rubies]

It depends what industry you work in and what award you're under. It probably wouldn't have been specified in your contract. You can check you award at the fair work website.
http://www.fwc.gov.au/

[chickenpants]

I know hospitality allows for a 2 hour minimum shift, instead of the 3-4 of other industries.

[MrsLexiK]

I used to get called in for less then the minimum shift, as long as I was paid for the minimum shift I believe it was above board.

[ChunkyChook]

I guess maccas is classed as hospitality damn it. It's just annoying organising everything for a shift that is only 2.5 hours.

[HerringToMarmala...]

I work 2.5 hour shifts regularly as a casual, and can get sent home early though most supervisors don't, despite the office insisting. But I do after school care so there aren't a whole lot of hours to choose from anyway.