Can your boss force you to work weekends?

By Stacks / The Law firm

The rush to get rid of the weekend is gathering pace. Three banks and a major finance house – all big employers - have applied to Fair Work Australia to rule that weekends be considered normal working hours. The application proposes the span of ordinary working hours to be 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays, and 8am to 6pm Sundays.

It's all part of the push for a 24/7 economy, for employers to be able to demand workers be available to work at all hours. Or, as is often happening, to work broken shifts which suit the employer.

But what if you don't want to work weekends or late at night – even if there is a shift allowance? What if you'd rather be with family, friends or playing sport?