Working Hours

The decrease in the minimum shift of secondary school students to one and a half hours pursued by the employer associations in the retail industry was due to the discrimination against any secondary student who wanted to work after school hours but could not work the required minimum of three hours because of school hours clashing with business closing times. Secondary school students do wish to have flexible working hours as they might want to get off work early when they have exams or assignments. For example, a student might prefer to work a shorter shift as HSC is an important examination. More hours of study should be allocated. With the reduction of the three hour minimum students will feel less stressful and would not need to give up a certain job. Furthermore, more employment opportunities will arise for the younger generations especially in regional areas with limited job opportunities. Tons of benefits can be obtained like working experience and acquiring critical employability skills. Three hour minimum shifts can be quite tiring for a student as there is school work to be completed or even house chores. By reducing the minimum shift, there is an appropriate balance between school and work. Working after school for students can teach them time management skills, instil a work ethic and boost up one’s self-confidence. Increased flexibility introduced into the current retail award grants younger people an opportunity to acquire working experience, develop a healthy working ethic and pick up employability skills. Understanding these important values and benefits at a much younger age teaches them a sense of responsibility, value of money and independence. Moreover, businesses in regional communities experience a pick-up in trade after school hours and before close as it suits them to compliment their staffing with some junior labour.

All the benefits for students listed above seem good thus will bring positive effects because of more jobs

References: Australian Newsagents’ Federation (2012) ‘Shop Distributive Allied Employees Association 's (SDA) loses Federal Court student minimum hours appeal’ ,16 May, Burke, K. and Davey, M. (2011), ‘Teenagers back in business with 90-minute shifts’, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June, p.3. Donovan, S. (2012) ‘Federal Court approves short shifts in shops for school students’, PM, 11 May,< http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3501058.htm> Fair Work Australia (2011), Decision by VP Watson, National Retail Association Limited [2011] FWA 3777, 20 June,http://www.fwa.gov.au/decisionssigned/html/2011fwa3777.htm Fair Work Commission, Australia’s National Workplace Relations Tribunal, viewed 16 March 2013, < http://www.fwc.gov.au/> Lawrence, J. (2011), ‘Shorter shifts leave workers out of pocket’, Newcastle Herald, 22 June, p.11. National Retail Association (2011), ‘Minimum Hours decision will open doors for young people’, Media Statement, 20 June, www.nra.net.au Stewart, D. (2011), ‘Fair work for teens’, Newcastle Herald, 25 June, p.10