Changes to workforce laws come into place on Monday 26 August. Are you prepared?
The changes are part of the Closing Loopholes reforms and include changes to casual employment.
Changes to casual employment include how casual work is defined, pathways to permanent employment, and employee and employer responsibilities.
The definition of casual employees will apply to new recruits from 26 August 2024 onwards. Existing casual employees will continue to stay casual under the new definition until they take permanent roles.
The new definition of a casual employee:
- the employment relationship has no firm advance commitment to ongoing work, taking into account a number of factors, and
- they’re entitled to a casual loading or specific casual pay rate under an award, registered agreement, or employment contract.
The new independent contractor rules include a change to the definition of employment.
The new right to disconnect for employees doesn’t apply to small businesses until 26 August 2025. This gives eligible employees the right to refuse contact outside their working hours unless that refusal is unreasonable.
There are also new minimum standards and protections for ‘employee-like workers’ in the gig economy and certain industries.
