Are my hours legal?

I've been working in retail for only a few months now as a casual worker, but over the past few weeks the amount of shifts I am rostered on for has increased hugely. Usually I wouldn't complain about the extra cash, but the shiftload has become life-consuming (shifts are nine hours long and I commute one and a half hours to and from my job). To make matters worse, the store I work in is tiny, messy and extremely busy. In fact the only thing keeping me at this job is that the store is an extremely prestigious one and that my working there makes me cool. :)
I think one of the main reasons I am getting so many shifts is that I am good at my job and I'm quite young and as such my pay is lower.
Anyway, from tommorow onwards, I am working for eight days straight. I'm now working more than most of the permanent staff whom I work with, and for less money.
My question is; is it legal for someone of my working status to be rostered on as much as I am?
I really don't want to quit - I need money.
Additional Details
I seem to have missed some details....
The job is in Sydney, Australia, and I commute by train, which costs little more than $4. Trust me, I'm definately coming out on top.
I'm over 18 (just) yet have quite a deal of experience in retail yet have never before quite been rostered on so...prolifically. To a point I take it as a compliment, yet I feel somewhat irritated that I've worked and will work till late on Christmas Eve, the day after Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, especially considering that no other employee at my workplace has a similiar roster.

angel eyes

get your head down,knuckle in and seek promotion,you will be acknowledged for your hard work and dedication,above all dont let the firm take the pi55 out of you,if it is getting you down though,seek alternative employment cos too many "big" corporate firms just abuse their staff....good luck!

energeticthinker

The important point to worry about here isn't 'the legality', but the fact that you need the money.

Consider yourself lucky to get the hours/money.

As long as they pay you overtime for the hours worked past 40 per week, it's legal.

deederdum

I don't know about the laws where you live, but where I live that is illegal. Here (montana) employers cannot force employees to work more than eight hours per day or 40 hours per week without the employee's permission.

You have answered the questions yourself.You love your job and you need the money.Your employer have noticed that you are enjoying it and thats why you have been given the shift of three people at a time.
It's not legal to be rostered everyday of the week but it depends on what is written on your employment handbook but I'm sure it's not legal but you honestly seem to be enjoying it and if I'm your employer too,I'll explore that

Expert Realtor

No job makes you "cool".

To me, it is foolish to commute 1 1/2 hours each way for a low-paying retail job with zero career potential.

Welcome to Christmas...'tis the season, and any company is going to schedule you when they need you to. They have to pay you overtime if they schedule you for over 40 hours in a work week.

Yes, it's legal. You can also quit if you don't like the job.

With gas at $3.00 a gallon, I can't imagine you coming out ahead with that commute.

Judy

If you are in the US, it's legal under federal law, although you would have to be paid time and a half for hours over 40 in a week. If you are under 18, some states have laws restricting the hours you can work.

Some of your phrasing sounds like you aren't in the US, and since you don't say where you are, nobody can tell you the laws in your area.

chuichupachichi

Different states, have different labor and workplace laws. Legislation which has to some degree or another, determined what the value of your quality of life is, may have been written by others.
But only you, can and must determine exactly what is the value of being "cool".

You mentioned that your commute is one of 1.5
hrs.
I doubt if any state has laws, which obligate the employer to take this into consideration when determining your work schedule, being that the employer does not decide from where, or from how far, the people whom submit an application, may have traveled.

Pesonaly, I think that driving 1.5 hrs. to what sounds like a relatively low paying job, at current fuel prices, is very "uncool" !
Furthermore, it completely lacks any "prestige"
whatsoever !

trippedits

As long as you are getting the required breaks (lunch and ten minutes) your hours are perfectly legal.

It's retail and it's the holiday season. Everyone who works in retail is working like that right now- it's part of the job.

Chances are the hours will lighten up in January.

If you cannot work the overtime or are unwilling, then tell your boss. A company cannot force you to work overtime. But if they schedule you to work overtime and you consent, there is nothing illegal about it at all.

Be glad you're making an hourly rate and working those hours. I've worked the last ten days in a row from 6am to 5pm and because I'm salary, there is no overtime. But like I said, it's part of the gig during the holidays in retail.

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