Types of Employment
More information about the different types of employment can be found at: Fair Work
1. Employees can be taken on as full-time, part-time or casual.
Full-time employee:
- works, on average, around 38 hours per week
- usually works regular hours each week
- has fully paid leave entitlements
- is a permanent employee or on a fixed-term contract
Part-time employee:
- works, on average, less than 38 hours per week
- usually works regular hours each week
- is entitled to the same benefits as a full-time employee, at a partial rate corresponding to the proportion of full-time hours they work
- has paid leave entitlements
- is a permanent employee or on a fixed-term contract.
Casual employee:
- has no guaranteed hours of work
- usually works irregular hours (but can work regular hours)
- doesn’t get paid sick or annual leave, but receives a higher hourly rate than full-time or part-time employees
- can end employment without notice, unless notice is required by a registered agreement, award or employment contract.
2. Fixed-term contract employees:
- are employed for a specific period or task, on a full-time or part-time basis
- are entitled to the same wages, penalty rates and leave as permanent employees.
3. Shift workers:
- work outside normal working hours and receive extra payment for doing so.
4. Daily and weekly hire employees:
Employees can be hired as daily or weekly hire employees in the following industries:
- building and construction
- plumbing.
5. Probation:
An employer may put a new employee on probation to determine if he/she is suitable for the role of business. The employer decides how long the probation period will be. It can range from a few weeks to a few months from the start of employment.
Probation periods are not separate periods of employment and the new employee receives the same entitlements as he/she would receive if not on probation, including accrual of, and access to, paid leave.
If it is decided not to retain an employee after his/her probationary period, notice of termination is still required to be given, and payment made for any unused accumulated annual leave.