Australian businesses with long-term casual staff could face fines in excess of $66,000 if they fail to offer them permanent positions, says the Fair Work Ombudsman.
From 27 September 2021, employers will need to contact casual staff, employed for at least 12 months, with a written offer to convert them to permanent employment.
The requirement comes after reforms to the Fair Work Act were passed in March, giving casual employees the right to convert to permanent employment after 12 months of employment, if they have had a regular pattern of hours on an ongoing basis over the past six months.
Small-business employers, defined as those with fewer than 15 employees at any given time, are not required to offer their casual employees an opportunity to convert to permanent employment.
For more on this topic, visit New Casual Employment Laws.