Roster

Rosters are used in various workplaces to organise and communicate the working hours and shifts of employees. They help in planning the workforce efficiently, ensuring adequate staffing during operational hours. A roster can vary weekly or be fixed and typically includes start and end times for each shift, as well as which days each employee is working.

Rosters and award rules

Many awards set rules for rosters, such as how much notice you must give of a roster or a change to it (often 7 days, unless the employee agrees), minimum shift lengths, breaks between shifts and how ordinary hours can be averaged. Part-time employees' rostered hours usually need to match their written agreement. Keeping accurate rosters and timesheets also helps you meet your record-keeping obligations. For example, under many awards you cannot change a part-time employee's regular days without their written agreement.

Read our guide to modern awards.