Staffing your petrol station correctly is incredibly important to its success. However, more goes into this process than you may initially think. When making decisions about how and who to hire, you are likely to run into decisions between hiring casual employees, or part-time employees to supplement any gaps between full-time staff members.
If you’re trying to decide between hiring part-time or casual employees for your business, there are a few key points to understand and consider.
Part-Time Employees
A part-time employee is someone who works, on average, less than 38 hours per week for your business. These employees work a regular schedule, and can be hired as permanent employees, or on a fixed-term contract. Either way, part-time employees are guaranteed a fixed period of work, and require written notice or payment if an employer decides to terminate them, or if they decide to quit.
In addition, part-time employees are entitled to paid leave including annual leave and sick and carer’s leave. Part-time employees are guaranteed the same benefits as full-time employees, however the benefits are determined on a pro-rata basis.
For example, a full time employee working 38 hours a week is entitled to 10 full days, or 76 hours, of paid sick and carer’s leave per year. A part-time employee working 19 hours would be guaranteed half of that, as their hours total only half of what the full time employee is working.
Casual Employees
Unlike part-time employees, casual employees do not work a fixed number or hours a week, nor do they work on a fixed schedule. There is no agreed upon period or term of employment. Also unlike part-time employees, casual employees require no prior written notice or payment for termination or in the event that they decide to discontinue their own employment. Casual employees have the ability to pick from any hours offered, and can refuse or swap shifts as they see fit.
Casual employees are also not guaranteed any sick or annual leave benefits to the same degree as part-time workers. Per occasion, casual employees are entitled to two days unpaid carer’s leave, and two days unpaid compassionate leave. They are also given five days unpaid family or domestic violence leave per year.
Should I Hire Casual or Part-Time Employees?
There are benefits and drawbacks to hiring each type of employee, and decisions should be made based on the needs and structure of your individual business.
In general, part-time employees are good choices for those employers who:
- Desire guaranteed hours from employees each week
- Cannot justify the risk of employees quitting without advance notice
- Can commit to structured hours and schedules for workers
- Are able to provide designated hours of paid sick and carer’s leave
Casual employees may work best in other situations such as when:
- Employers have short term, or immediate positions to fill
- Employers are experiencing temporary gaps in staffing
- Employer’s staffing needs change frequently, creating the possibility of sudden terminations
- Employers cannot afford to provide guaranteed paid leave
- Employers interested in hiring casual employees should keep in mind that individuals working these positions are not required to accept offered hours, and can leave their position without notice, which has the potential to create gaps in staffing.
Overall, each business’s needs are unique and should be assessed carefully before making decisions about hiring. If these needs and limitations are not assessed accurately, problems may arise. To avoid issues with paid leave or understaffing, take into consideration how you foresee your business operating, and make hiring decisions accordingly.
ServoPro members can access our free HR Helpdesk for specialised help and advice tailored to your specific business. For more information call Dan Armes on 0490 415 063 or email [email protected]