• Yes, if you are a casual employee, but it’s not so easy if you are employed full time or part time.
• Whether you work full time, part time or as a casual, your employer expects you to work a reasonable number of hours. If you continually turn down work your employer may question your commitment to your job.
• Employees can refuse a request or requirement to work additional hours if the hours are unreasonable.
• You’re also allowed to turn down hours if you’re sick or injured. If you’re a full-time or part-time employee, this can be taken as sick leave.

Casual employees

• Generally, casual employees have no regular hours of work but are offered hours on a roster-by-roster basis.
• As a casual employee you have the right to accept or turn down any of the hours offered to you, as you are only paid for the hours you accept to work.
• This arrangement may suit you if you need to fit your work around school, sport or volunteering activities.
• As a casual, you are not entitled to paid annual leave or paid personal/carer’s leave. However, you can take unpaid carer’s leave, compassionate leave or community service leave. You can also ask, if it’s reasonable, to take a day off on a public holiday.
• If you have been regularly employed by the same business for at least 12 months, you can also request flexible work arrangements and may be entitled to unpaid parental leave.

Full-time or part-time employees

• Full-time employees are expected to work regular hours. You will have access to leave, including paid annual leave, paid personal/carer’s leave, paid compassionate leave, community service leave and parental leave. Speak to your employer about taking time off.
• Part-time employees have regular hours. If you wish to be absent from work during one of your regular shifts check with your boss to see if you can use leave or if you can swap a shift with a colleague.