Casual employment refers to a situation in which an employee is only guaranteed work when it is needed, and there is no expectation that there will be more work in the future
. A casual employee accepts a job with the understanding that there is no firm commitment for regular employment and advancement
. Key characteristics of casual employment include:
- No fixed hours : Casual employees typically work with no fixed hours and have no guarantee of permanency in their work
- Ad hoc basis : Casual employees work on an ad hoc basis with irregular and unpredictable hours
- No paid time off : Casual employees are only compensated for time actually worked, which means they do not receive paid time off for holidays
- Flexible work : Employers can change a casual employee's roster weekly to suit their business needs, and casual employees can also refuse to accept work or swap shifts
- Short notice : Casual employees can notify at short notice that they are unable to work and can be unavailable for work more regularly than full-time or part-time employees
- No specific termination notice : Casual employees can resign without notice unless there is a specific term in their employment contract
Casual work can be found in various industries and job types, such as unskilled labor, retail, and other sectors where workers are hired on an as- needed basis
