Employment agreements are not only a legal necessity; they can help set the tone and feel of your business. They can add extra protections to your business that national award rates do not offer, such as confidentiality and notice periods. Securing your hires with an employment contract also formalises the arrangement with your new employee and will contribute to a professional and positive working relationship developing between you. This Employment Agreement (Casual) is a great way to officially and easily hire a new casual employee. This document allows you to offer casual employment and document the terms of that employment to ensure clarity and provide a safeguard for any future disputes.

What is casual employment?

Casual employment is a type of employment in which an employee’s working hours and employment status are liable to change at a moment’s notice. A casual employee may have set hours or may only work when required to. Either way, casual employment involves little commitment from the employer or employee. For the employer, they can dismiss an employee without paying out a notice period. For an employee, they can resign without having to give notice. Due to this, casual employment contracts do not contain probationary periods.

A casual employee tends to be paid a higher hourly rate than a part time or full time employee. However, they do not have the same leave entitlements as other employees. A casual employee will not be paid for sick leave or annual leave. However, they may be eligible to take paid long service leave for 2 months if they have been employed in that role for 10 years.

Recent developments in the law now mean that a casual employee can request a part time or full time contract if they have been employed on that basis for more than 12 months. An employer can only refuse if they can provide a sufficient reason as to why they cannot offer the employer part time or full time employment.

Use this Employment Agreement (Casual) if:

• You are hiring a casual employee;
• You want to formalise your employment arrangement with a casual employee;
• You want to safeguard yourself from any future disputes;
• You want to make your expectations for the role clear to a new employee.

What does the Employment Agreement (Casual) cover?

• Job title and position;
• General terms and conditions;
• Payment (hourly rate - weekdays, weekends, public holidays);
• Hours of work;
• Superannuation; and
• Termination of employment.

Other names for Employment Agreement (Casual) include:

• Employment Contract
• Job Agreement (Casual)
• Casual contract

Other documents you may need:

• Part Time Employment Agreement
• Discrimination Policy
• Non-Disclosure Agreement (One Way)
• Grievance Policy
• Social Media Policy

Further information

• What is a Casual Employee
• Do Casual Employees have Leave Entitlements?
• Some Helpful Tips for Hiring Your First Employee