This Fact Sheet discusses casual employment, an increasingly widespread form of employment in Australia, with a summary of the entitlements of casual workers and sets out how they vary from those of permanent workers.
This Fact Sheet discusses casual employment, an increasingly widespread form of employment in Australia, with a summary of the entitlements of casual workers and how they vary from those of permanent workers.
Casual work is a term that is used to describe a range of employment situations where the work is not permanent (i.e. not ongoing). The essence of casual work is that there is no entitlement to ongoing employment or certainty in the days, hours or shifts that you will work. Casual workers are entitled to a higher minimum rate of pay and have different entitlements from permanent employees.
You may be a casual employee if there is no firm advance commitment to ongoing work, taking into account a number of factors, including the real substance and true nature of the employment relationship and whether you are also entitled to a casual loading or specific casual pay rate under an award, registered agreement, or employment contract.
When considering whether there is no firm advance commitment to ongoing work, the practical reality and true nature of the employment relationship is to be considered. There are other factors which also need to be considered.
Casual work suits some employees because it offers a greater level of flexibility about working hours than other forms of employment. However, this flexibility can also be a disadvantage because it means that you have no certainty about your working hours and no guarantees about ongoing work.
If you are a casual employee, your shifts can be cancelled or you can be sent home early if you are not needed by your employer. While in theory you may decline work, it can be difficult to refuse hours if you are relying on your employer to offer you work in the future.
For more information about casual employment, your entitlements and ways to convert to permanent employment, we recommend you download the ‘Casual Employment’ Fact Sheet.
Call our Telephone Information Service on Melbourne Metro (03) 9662 1933 or Regional Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania on 1800 331 617.
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