How Much Notice Is an Employer Meant to Give for Roster Changes in Casual Work

• 

  Stewardo on 26/01/2017 - 00:48

  -1

  24hrs I think

• 

  pao2x on 26/01/2017 - 01:22

  +1

  No time specified. But the casual person can always refuse

• 

  scrimshaw on 26/01/2017 - 02:14

  +3

  you can be rostered at a moment's notice. that is the point of a casual. it's usually good practice for the manager to at least call or text message asking for a shift… but the worker can always refuse to do the shift.

  • 

    rambutann on 26/01/2017 - 07:40

    +2

    Exactly, they can give you a shift to start in 20 minutes but you don't have to take it..

• 

  PJC on 26/01/2017 - 04:19

  Shouldn't your title be "How Much Notice Is an Employer Meant to Give for Roster Changes in Casual Work"?

  • 

    krimzonite on 26/01/2017 - 10:01

    +1

    correct, i made a typo

• 

  Elwes on 26/01/2017 - 09:13

  It depends where you're working. The Enterprise Agreement might define it: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employee-entitlements/types-of-e…

  • 

    Elwes on 26/01/2017 - 09:15

    E.g. for fast food workers:
    8.2 (a) Where an employer proposes to change an employee’s regular roster or ordinary hours of work,the employer must consult with the employee or employees affected and their representatives, if any, about the proposed change.

    BUT because it's fast food, they have an out:
    (c) The requirement to consult under this clause does not apply where an employee has irregular,sporadic or unpredictable working hours.

• 

  [Deactivated] on 26/01/2017 - 10:35

  Casual work, is defined as being on an hour by hour basis - it would be good management practice to notify you of additional rostered shifts as soon as practical so you can accept or decline the work according to your personal circumstances.

  The employer can put in place a rostering system with some sort of access to allow you to check for changes but the onus is on them in the context that for casuals and part time staff there must be an offer of work and an acceptance from the employee. Without that there is no contract for the shift.

  As stated by other comments, casuals can cancel or not accept shifts at any time - as can the employer (dictated by minimum time frames in your Award). Try to get everyone to feed back to the manager that they are very happy to accept additional work and provide regular availability updates if management can provide updates on rostering changes. It works towards building a positive workplace culture instead of the boss whining about staff and vice versa.

  Almost all Unions have a free member advice line. I work for one. Union fees generally cost about 1% of your income. Unions try to keep wages growing at CPI or 2-3% annually so in effect pay for themselves.

  Research shows Unionised workplaces have better wages and safer conditions. Join a Union today.
  For retail I would suggest the new Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RFFWU) the AWU, United Voice, or the SDA depending on your industry.

• 

  PcisT on 28/01/2017 - 21:14

  As a casual, they can give you 1 second notice if they wanted, and conversely you can give them 1 second notice that you can no longer work. However, this wouldn't be a good relationship for either party.