How Much Can An Australian Employee Work

The Committed Activities of Australian Employees

How Much Can an Australian Employee Work?

In Australia, an employee can work a maximum of 38 hours for a standard full-time working week. However, an employer can ask an employee to work reasonable extra hours, as long as it is within the following limits:

• Maximum of 10 hours per day
• Maximum of 60 hours per week

An employer cannot request or require an employee to work more than these hours per week unless the employee agrees in writing.

Committed Activities: Beyond the Standard Working Week

In addition to the standard working week, Australian employees often engage in committed activities, including unpaid work, childcare, and volunteer work. These activities can add significantly to an employee's total work hours.

Unpaid Domestic Work and Childcare

On average, Australian employees spend approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes per day on unpaid domestic work and childcare responsibilities. This equates to roughly 23 hours per week, or an additional 1,196 hours per year.

Volunteer Work

Many Australian employees also volunteer their time to various organizations and causes. The average volunteer commits around 180 hours per year to volunteer activities.

Conclusion

Understanding the legal limits on working hours in Australia and the additional time commitment required for committed activities is crucial for both employees and employers. Striking a balance between work and personal life is essential for employee well-being and productivity.