What is the minimum shift length for retail?

The minimum shift for most retail employees is 3 hours. There's an exception for secondary school students who can work a minimum of 1.5 hours if: they work between 3pm and 6:30pm, have parental consent, and longer shifts aren't feasible for the employer.

What is the maximum shift length?

Under the General Retail Award, employees can be rostered for up to 9 hours on any day. However, they can work up to 11 hours on one day per week. Hours beyond 9 (or 11 on the extended day) may attract overtime rates.

How much break is required between shifts?

Employees must receive a minimum of 12 hours between finishing one shift and starting the next. If an employee finishes at 9pm, they cannot start their next shift until 9am the following day.

What are the day off requirements for retail workers?

Employees cannot work more than 5 days per week. If they work 6 days one week, they can only work 4 days the following week. They must have at least 2 consecutive days off per week, or 3 consecutive days off in a 2-week period.

What are the weekend penalty rates for retail?

Saturday rates are 125% for full-time/part-time and 150% for casuals. Sunday rates are 200% for ALL employees (full-time, part-time, and casual). This is different from some other awards where casuals have different Sunday rates. See our retail award guide.

What are the rules for regular Sunday workers?

Employees who regularly work Sundays must be rostered to have 3 consecutive days off each 4-week period, and those consecutive days must include both Saturday and Sunday. This ensures they get at least one full weekend off per month.

Can employees refuse to work weekends?

Unreasonable refusal to work weekends may be addressed through the normal performance management process. However, employees can refuse if the hours are unreasonable considering their personal circumstances, notice given, and other factors under the Fair Work Act.

Do public holiday rates stack with Sunday rates?

No, rates don't stack. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the public holiday rate applies (250% for full-time/part-time, 275% for casuals) - not the Sunday rate plus holiday loading.

How much notice is required for roster changes?

Employers must give at least 7 days' written notice for roster changes. If the employee objects to the change, the notice period extends to 14 days. Proper consultation must occur, considering the employee's circumstances.

Can an employee refuse a roster change?

Employees can object to roster changes, which extends the notice period to 14 days. However, employers can ultimately make reasonable roster changes after proper consultation. Unreasonable changes may be challenged through Fair Work.

What consultation is required before changing rosters?

Employers must inform the employee of the proposed change, explain the reasons, invite the employee to give their views, and genuinely consider those views before making a decision. Keep records of this consultation process.

Can rosters be changed at short notice in emergencies?

The award allows shorter notice periods by mutual agreement. In genuine emergencies, employees may agree to short-notice changes. However, repeated short-notice changes without agreement would breach the consultation requirements.

HOW-TO GUIDE

How to roster retail staff

A complete guide to rostering retail staff in Australia, including General Retail Award compliance, weekend trading requirements, and roster change procedures.

10 min read • Updated January 2025

Written by

Georgia Morgan

General information only – not legal advice

This guide provides general information about rostering under the General Retail Award. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.

HR Hub disclaimer • Modern Awards • Fair Work

PENALTY RATES

Retail penalty rates

Key penalty rates under the General Retail Award for rostering calculations.

Period	Full-time/Part-time	Casual	Notes
Monday-Friday (ordinary hours)	100%	125%	Within span of hours
Saturday	125%	150%	All hours
Sunday	200%	200%	All hours
Public Holiday	250%	275%	+ day in lieu for FT
Early morning (before 7am)	125%	150%	Outside ordinary span
Evening (after 6pm Mon-Fri)	125%	150%	May vary by state

Note: Sunday rates are 200% for ALL employees including casuals. This is different from some other awards where casuals have lower Sunday rates.

View full General Retail Award rates

STEP-BY-STEP

6 steps to retail staff rostering

Follow these steps to create compliant and effective retail rosters.

Understand trading hours and shift spans

Know your store's trading hours and the award's ordinary hours span.

Key requirements:

Ordinary hours span: 7am-9pm (Mon-Fri), varies weekends
Extended trading can extend span to 11pm
Hours outside span attract overtime rates
Minimum 12 hours between finishing and starting

Plan around minimum shift requirements

Ensure all shifts meet minimum engagement periods.

Key requirements:

Minimum shift: 3 hours (most employees)
Exception: 1.5 hours for school students (3pm-6:30pm)
Maximum shift: 9 hours (11 hours once per week)
Part-time: Agree on regular pattern in writing

Apply weekend penalty rates correctly

Calculate correct rates for Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays.

Key requirements:

Saturday: 125% (full-time/part-time), 150% (casual)
Sunday: 200% (full-time/part-time), 200% (casual)
Public holidays: 250% + day in lieu for FT
Track actual hours for accurate costing

Manage days off requirements

Ensure rosters comply with consecutive day and day off rules.

Key requirements:

Maximum 5 days work per week
6 days one week = max 4 days next week
Regular Sunday workers: 3 consecutive days off (incl Sat-Sun) per 4 weeks
Minimum 2 consecutive days off per week

Handle roster changes properly

Follow consultation requirements when changing rosters.

Key requirements:

7 days' written notice for roster changes
14 days' notice if employee objects
Consult and consider feedback
Document all roster change discussions

Improve for peak trading periods

Align staffing to sales data and customer traffic patterns.

Key requirements:

Analyse POS data for peak hours
Staff up for late night shopping
Plan for seasonal peaks (Christmas, EOFY sales)
Build casual pool for flexibility

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DAYS OFF

Day off requirements

Key day off rules under the General Retail Award.

Maximum days per week

5 days maximum

6th day one week means max 4 next week

Consecutive days off

2 consecutive days per week

Or 3 consecutive in 2-week period

Sunday workers

3 consecutive days (incl Sat+Sun) per 4 weeks

For employees who regularly work Sundays

Break between shifts

Minimum 12 hours

Between end of one shift and start of next

ROSTER CHANGES

Roster change process

Steps to follow when changing employee rosters.

Give written notice

7 days before change takes effect

Consult with employee

Discuss the change and reasons

Consider feedback

Take employee circumstances into account

If employee objects

Extend notice to 14 days

Document outcome

Keep records of consultation

TOP TIPS

Retail rostering tips

Strategies for effective and compliant retail rostering.

Use sales data

Align staffing levels to historical sales data and foot traffic patterns.

Build master rosters

Create template rosters that automatically meet day-off and hour requirements.

Cross-train staff

Train employees across departments for flexible deployment.

Plan for peaks

Build casual capacity for Christmas, EOFY, and promotional periods.

Track weekend costs

Monitor Saturday and Sunday labour costs as percentage of sales.

Enable shift swaps

Let staff swap shifts to reduce callouts and improve coverage.

AVOID THESE

Common retail rostering mistakes

Avoid these costly errors in retail staff rostering.

Short-changing minimum shift length

Consequence: Must pay for 3 hours even if employee works less

Solution: Don't roster shifts under 3 hours unless school student exception applies

Missing Sunday day-off requirements

Consequence: Regular Sunday workers not getting required Sat+Sun off together

Solution: Track Sunday workers and ensure 3 consecutive days off (incl Sat-Sun) each 4 weeks

Insufficient break between shifts

Consequence: Employees rostered with less than 12 hours between shifts

Solution: Build 12-hour minimum gap into roster templates

Not paying Sunday penalties correctly

Consequence: Sunday rate is 200% for all employees (not the lower casual rate)

Solution: Apply 200% for full-time, part-time AND casuals on Sundays

Roster changes without proper notice

Consequence: Changing rosters with less than 7 days notice without agreement

Solution: Always give 7 days notice, extend to 14 if employee objects

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The minimum shift for most retail employees is 3 hours. There's an exception for secondary school students who can work a minimum of 1.5 hours if: they work between 3pm and 6:30pm, have parental consent, and longer shifts aren't feasible for the employer.
Under the General Retail Award, employees can be rostered for up to 9 hours on any day. However, they can work up to 11 hours on one day per week. Hours beyond 9 (or 11 on the extended day) may attract overtime rates.
Employees must receive a minimum of 12 hours between finishing one shift and starting the next. If an employee finishes at 9pm, they cannot start their next shift until 9am the following day.
Employees cannot work more than 5 days per week. If they work 6 days one week, they can only work 4 days the following week. They must have at least 2 consecutive days off per week, or 3 consecutive days off in a 2-week period.