Workers

Employment status

You've got a job, but what's your employment status? It could affect the entitlements you get.

Are you:

a full-time employee
a part-time employee
a casual employee
a probationary employee
a junior employee
a permanent employee
a fixed-term employee
a contractor
a pieceworker
an outworker
an apprentice
a trainee

Are you covered by an award, agreement or a collective agreement?

A full-time employee permanently works the prescribed minimum hours per week and is entitled to all the benefits under an award.

A part-time employee permanently works regular hours every week, but not as many hours as a full-time worker. Part-time employees are entitled to the same conditions as full-time employees and usually the same hourly rate of pay. Some awards may prescribe a loading for certain part-time employees.

A casual employee works on an hourly or daily basis, and for less time than the ordinary weekly working hours of a full-time employee. Casuals may work regular hours or shifts in some workplaces. They do not get the same benefits as part-time or full-time employees but are paid an extra loading on top of their wage to compensate.

An employee may be a probationary employee for their first three months on the job. This gives the employer time to assess an employee's suitability for a job.

Note: the duration of this period can be lengthened or shortened by agreement prior to employment commencing.

A junior employee is usually aged under 21 and receives a percentage of the minimum adult wage. Refer to your industrial instrument because the age at which adult rates may apply could vary.

A permanent employee is employed either full-time or part-time. Casual employment is not considered permanent.

A fixed-term employee is employed for a particular length of time and may work full-time, part-time or as a casual. Fixed-term employees often do project work or relieve an employee absent on parental leave or long service leave. At the end of the fixed period, the employer and employee have an option to renew the arrangement.

A contractor enters a contract for service, rather than of service, to an employer and is not an employee. The contractor usually operates as an independent business and may be paid on completion of a job, rather than an hourly rate. Contractors look after their own superannuation, taxation, and workers' compensation insurance. They're not covered by awards or agreements.

A pieceworker is an employee paid on the basis of results (e.g. paid on a rate per article produced, such as a shearer or sewing machinist). Some awards have special provisions for pieceworkers.

An outworker works works for someone else's business or calling in a home or a place that's not necessarily a business or commercial premises. Typical work involves packing, processing or working on articles or material, or doing clerical work. The clothing industry uses a lot of outworkers.

An apprentice is paid to learn trade skills. The structured training mixes theory and skills development at college with practical application on the job. The flexibility of apprenticeship schemes means wage rates and employment conditions vary depending on the type of apprenticeship.

A trainee undertakes a combination of structured training and work. The flexibility of traineeships means wage rates and employment conditions vary depending on the type of traineeship.

Last updated 2 July 2007