Employee planning, full time, part time and casual
By Ciaran Strachan
In November 2019 the FWO tweeted this about casual employees.
“ A casual employee doesn’t automatically become a permanent employee just because they’ve worked regular hours for a set period of time. They stay as casuals unless the employee and employer agree to change the employment to full-time or part-time employment.
But, most awards say that casual employees have a right to request to become permanent if they meet particular conditions, like working a regular pattern of work for a set period of time.
If your business has long-term casuals, check your obligations for handling these requests under the award by selecting your industry from the drop-down menu here: https://lnkd.in/dwPPRYm
If your business is covered by an enterprise agreement, you should check it instead to see if there’s a minimum process for employees to request to become permanent. .”
This is good information and here are some more tips regarding good planning when it comes to casual and permanent staffing arrangements
This clause exists as many employers pick up a casual to support or backfill a permanent employee that has left, or gone from full time to part time and stated to the new casual…..
”if things work out, we will make you permanent in 3 or 6 months, or a year etc………”
A year or two passes and the employee is still backfilling as a casual, and working as much or more than other permanent staff. Often this is due to a lack of forward planning by the employer, and/or no agreed timeframe for the permanent employee to go from full time to part time and back, which in turn impacts on the status of the casual.
Employers should not string casuals along with false promises of permanent employment if they are unable to deliver.
1. Draft a plan including a budget for salaries and LOOK AT ALL YOUR STAFFING ARRAGEMENTs TOGETHER, to ensure all full time, part time and casual staff support your business requirements
2. Ensure that ALL STAFF agree to their current and future employment status. If somebody wants to go part time and you need to backfill, lock in an agreed period and make them aware of how this affects casual staffing arrangements.
