Ordinary hours

Ordinary hours are the agreed-upon, regular working hours set by an employer for their employees. These hours are often outlined in an employment contract or award and don't include overtime or additional hours. For example, if a full-time employee's contract states a 38-hour workweek, these 38 hours are considered their ordinary hours. Any work done beyond these hours would typically be counted as overtime and might be compensated differently.

Ordinary hours under the NES and awards

The National Employment Standards limit a full-time employee's hours to 38 a week, and a part-time employee's hours to the lesser of 38 and their ordinary hours, plus reasonable additional hours in each case. Awards set the span of hours in which ordinary hours can be worked and how they can be averaged. Work outside the span or beyond ordinary hours usually attracts overtime or penalty rates. For example, under many awards a full-time employee can work ordinary hours that average 38 a week over a roster cycle, with an accrued rostered day off.

Read our guide to modern awards.