Check whether your shift meets the minimum engagement period under your industry's Modern Award. Find out if you were short-changed and how much you are owed.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Embed this calculator on your site — free
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<iframe
src="https://fairworkmate.com.au/embed/minimum-shift?partner=YOUR_NAME"
width="100%"
height="700"
frameborder="0"
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title="Minimum Shift Length Checker by FairWork Mate"
style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:680px;"
></iframe>YOUR_NAME with your site identifier for attribution (optional).“I'm using the Minimum Shift Length Checker on FairWork Mate. Walk me through what this typically tells me and what I should do next.”
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FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is general information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.
Do casual employees have minimum hours in Australia? Learn about minimum engagement periods by award, whether your employer can send you home early, roster change rules, and what to do if your hours keep getting cut.
Casual Minimum Engagement Australia 2026 — 3-Hour Rule by AwardMinimum engagement for casual employees in Australia is 3 hours under most modern awards (2 hours for retail, 1.5 for school students). If sent home early, you're still paid the minimum engagement.
My shift was cancelled 1 hour before — do I still get paid? (Australia 2026)Hospo, retail, security and aged-care casuals get shifts pulled at the last minute. Under most modern awards you're entitled to MINIMUM SHIFT PAY anyway — usually 3-4 hours. Here's exactly what you're owed by award.
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Rostering someone for two shifts close together? Most modern awards require a minimum rest period between shifts (commonly 10 hours). This is the employer-side companion check: enter the end of the first shift and the start of the next, and see whether you're within typical award limits.
Check the gap between two consecutive shifts against the typical 10-hour modern award minimum rest period. Useful for employers rostering double shifts and workers asked to come back in early.
Last verified: 21 May 2026“I'm using the Consecutive Shifts Rest-Period Check on FairWork Mate. Walk me through what this typically tells me and what I should do next.”
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Get notified when rates change
Free alerts when minimum wage, award rates, or workplace laws are updated.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stuck on your numbers?
Ask our AI advisor — it'll talk you through your specific situation in seconds.
FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is general information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.
Free tools surface the issue. Our partners help you solve it.
Authorised Employment Hero Partner
Australian HR, payroll, rostering and award interpretation in one platform. Used by 300,000+ businesses. Fixes the underlying payroll/compliance issues our calculators surface.
Best for: SMEs that have outgrown spreadsheet payroll or want automated award interpretation.
See Employment HeroAuthorised Lawpath Partner
Register an ABN, form a Pty Ltd, or grab an ongoing legal plan. 400,000+ Australian businesses use Lawpath for fast, fixed-price legal admin without the $400/hr solicitor bill.
Best for: contractors, sole traders, scaling businesses, anyone forming a company.
See LawpathIT, Microsoft & cyber partner
Microsoft 365, Copilot rollouts, Essential Eight, Privacy Act 2026 and board-level cyber compliance for Australian SMBs. Where pay and HR end, your data and IT obligations begin.
Best for: SMBs running on Microsoft 365, anyone hitting cyber/privacy compliance, boards wanting an outside read on IT risk.
See FrontrowAffiliate partners — commissions fund the free tools on this site. We only recommend partners we've vetted as a good fit for Australian workplaces.