Whether you’re just starting your first job, or you’ve been working for a while, it’s important to know your rights at work!
Your workplace rights
Everyone has the right to fair pay and benefits for their work. You must feel safe, respected and supported at work!
If this is your first job, you should check out your state or territory’s rules about the age you need to be to start working.
Learn more about the minimum working age on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.Employees get different pay and entitlements depending on their type of employment.
Entitlements include things like:
- pay rates and allowances
- annual and personal leave
- paid breaks.
It’s important to know about your type of employment and entitlements.
Learn more about pay, entitlements and working conditions on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.Before starting a new job, you may need to do an unpaid trial shift. Employers do this to check that you have the skills for the job.
But your boss isn’t allowed to keep asking you to do unpaid shifts. If you’ve shown that you have the skills for the job, you must be paid for your work.
You can learn more about unpaid trials on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Unpaid work experience or internships are when you work to get experience. This can be ok if:
- you’re a student doing a placement
- you don’t have an employment relationship.
You have the right to be free from bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination at work.
Bullying can look like:
- a person or group continuously behaving unreasonably towards another worker or group of workers
- behaviour that is a health and safety risk.
Sexual harassment at work can look like:
- unwanted sexual behaviour
- behaviour that makes someone feel offended, humiliated or intimidated.
Discrimination happens when someone is treated negatively based on their:
- age
- gender identity
- sexuality
- religion.
When starting a new job, you may need to complete a probation period.
A probation period usually lasts 3 to 6 months.
It gives both the employer and employee a chance to see if the job is a good fit.
During a probation period, the employee receives the same pay and entitlements as someone who isn’t in a probation period.
You can learn more about your probation period rights on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.In some cases, you have the right to choose not to reply to your employer outside of work hours. This is to protect you from doing extra unpaid work.
This is known as the right to disconnect.
Contact could include:
- phone calls or texts
- emails
- social media and messaging services.
More information and support
The Fair Work Ombudsman has everything you need to know about your workplace rights as a young worker.
The Fair Work Ombudsman website has a bunch of helpful information, including:
You can find specialised information for First Nations people in the workplace.
Fair Work OmbudsmanYou have the same workplace rights as all other employees in Australia.
You can’t get in trouble for asking the Fair Work Ombudsman about your pay or workplace rights!
Get advice on your situationYou can often take leave or request flexible arrangements to help balance work and family.
Fair Work OmbudsmanThere is information and guidance for employees with disability.
Learn moreIf you’re worried that you’re not getting the right pay or entitlements, you should take the following steps:
- check what the law is
- talk to your manager
- put your issue in writing.
You can learn how to do that on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Learn moreYou can find specialised information for these industries:
Minimum wage information
You can find out more about your award, including the minimum pay rates and conditions for your industry or occupation.
Find your award using the ‘find my award’ tool.
Calculate your leave balances and pay rates using these calculators.
Online courses
You can learn how to manage difficult conversations or start a new job with these online learning courses.
Support if you’re being bullied at work
You have the right to a workplace free from bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination.
If you need support, it’s important to remember you are not alone.
"Guidance on employment and workplace rights ensures young people are empowered to make informed career choices, promoting fairness and equity in the workforce."
Rachel from Victoria