(1) This Policy has been developed to support the casual engagement of professional staff members at Australian Catholic University. The employment of casual staff is employment on a non-continuing basis for which payment is made at an hourly rate. (2) This Policy clarifies the conditions that relate to the employment of casual professional staff at the University and the procedures for employing casual staff. This Policy is also intended to inform casual staff members of their entitlements and obligations to ACU. (3) This Policy applies to professional staff who are employed at ACU on a casual basis, and whose employment is covered by the ACU Staff Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021 (Agreement). (4) Casual employment is employment by the hour which is paid a rate on an hourly basis. A casual staff member will be paid at an ordinary hourly rate, calculated by dividing the annual salary rate for the relevant classification by the number of weeks in a calendar year and further dividing by 35, plus a casual loading of 25%. This loading is in compensation for the casual nature of the appointment and all paid leave entitlements which casual staff members are not eligible to receive; including but not limited to personal/carer’s leave, public holidays, annual leave, long service leave (other than where, in accordance with the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), an applicable award or a State Act provides an entitlement) and annual leave loading. (5) The minimum engagement for casual professional staff is 3 hours, however, the following casual professional staff members have a minimum engagement period of one (1) hour: (6) Where possible ACU students will be preferenced for casual professional engagements. (7) All overtime worked must be authorised by the Nominated Supervisor in writing prior to the commencement of the overtime. Up to 35 hours per week worked by a casual professional staff member will be paid at ordinary rates. When calculating payment for overtime worked, the salary does not include the casual loading. (8) Overtime which has not been authorised in writing prior to the overtime being undertaken will not be paid as overtime. Casual professional staff members may be authorised to work flexible working arrangements. (9) Staff should also refer to the Overtime for Professional Staff Policy regarding further overtime entitlements. (10) With written approval from the appropriate delegate, a staff member employed on a continuing or fixed-term basis may engage in additional work as a casual staff member. The staff member will be paid for that work according to the arrangements approved for that employment with reference to the conditions of the Paid Inside Work Policy. (11) A casual staff member will not be required to work for more than five consecutive hours, without taking an unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes. Time taken as a meal break is not paid for as it is not counted as time worked. (12) Casual staff members are required to give a minimum of one hour’s notice of separation from employment with the University. The University may terminate the employment of a casual staff member by giving one hour’s notice. (13) The management of superannuation contributions for all staff is subject to the provisions of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) and the University’s Superannuation Policy. (14) The University will make employer contributions to a complying superannuation fund on behalf of casual staff members at the relevant minimum superannuation guarantee rate. (15) In circumstances where a complying superannuation fund does not accept employer contributions made on behalf of staff members who are over 74 years of age, the University will make equivalent contributions in the form of the payment of additional monies to such staff members. (16) Casual staff are entitled to unpaid personal/carers leave as outlined in the Personal Leave Policy. (17) Casual staff are entitled to unpaid compassionate leave as outlined in the Compassionate Leave Policy. (18) Casual staff are entitled to unpaid parental leave as outlined in the Parental Leave Policy. (19) Casual staff are entitled to long service leave as outlined in the Long Service Leave Policy. (20) The University will issue advice to casual professional staff members after serving qualifying periods. (21) The University will, from time to time, take reasonable steps to inform casual professional staff of the conversion provisions. A staff member must not be engaged and re-engaged nor have their hours reduced to avoid any obligation under this policy. (22) An eligible casual staff member may apply in writing to their nominated supervisor for conversion to non-casual employment in accordance with these policy provisions. (23) To be eligible to apply for conversion, a casual staff member must be employed on a regular and systematic basis in the same or a similar and identically classified position in the same functional unit (or equivalent), either: (24) For the purposes of this clause occasional and short-term work performed by the staff member in another classification, job or functional unit will not: (25) Conditions for Conversion: (26) The Nominated Supervisor initiates the appointment of a casual staff member, either by submitting a request via the electronic Casual Employment System (CES) or by completing the Approval to Fill a Casual Staff Position form for business units where the use of the CES is not yet in place. (27) Requests are required to be reviewed and endorsed by the appropriate Nominated Supervisor and approved by either the: (28) The offer of employment informs the staff member of the terms of engagement including the duties required, the number of hours required (which may be stated as a range), the rate of pay for each class of duty required and a statement that payment will be made for any additional duties required during the employment. (29) All casual staff are required to accept the University’s offer of employment formally, before starting work at the University. The offer of employment includes provision for the staff member’s acceptance, and instructions for the staff member on how to confirm their acceptance and provide relevant personal information and documents to establish their employment with the University. (30) The offer of employment to a prospective casual staff member is accompanied by the ‘Casual Staff Employment Kit’ which includes, but is not limited to: (31) The Casual Employment Kit is sent to the prospective staff member either via the CES or by People and Capability. (32) The contents of the kit may vary from time to time according to legislative and other requirements that apply to the employment of casual staff. Other materials the University considers relevant to the employment of a casual staff member may also be included. (33) The induction and orientation process for new staff at ACU provides a mechanism for introducing new staff members to their role and responsibilities and to the University’s Mission so they become integrated into the ACU community as quickly as possible. Casual staff who commence employment with the University for the first time and who will be engaged, in the first instance, for a period of greater than one month, may be required to participate in an induction program, subject to the provisions of the Staff Induction Policy. (34) The responsibility for successful induction is shared between the nominated supervisor and the commencing staff member, supported by colleagues in the relevant organisational unit and by other areas of the University. (35) Casual staff are required to complete and submit a fortnightly timesheet to record the number of hours worked, including their daily start and finishing times. Submission is either via Staff Connect or a manual timesheet. The Nominated Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that a timesheet: (36) The Records will be stored by People and Capability in a safe and secure location for a period of 7 (seven) years as per the Records and Archive Management Policy. (37) The timesheet can only be processed if the staff member has a current contract of employment covering the period being claimed, and if the correctly completed and authorised timesheet is received by the nominated cut off dates as notified by People and Capability. (38) The engagement of casual staff and approval of any request for unpaid leave from a casual staff member must be approved by the delegated officer. Information on delegated officers is available in the Delegations of Authority Policy and Register. (39) The revision table includes revisions up until this document was migrated into the new policy system. Any later revisions will show in the Status and Details tab. (40) The University may make changes to this Policy and procedures from time to time to improve the effectiveness of its operation. In this regard, any staff member who wishes to make any comments about this Policy may forward their suggestions to People and Capability. (41) A staff member who requires assistance in understanding this Policy should first consult their nominated supervisor. If further information or advice is required staff should visit Service Central. (42) For related legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines and any supporting resources please refer to the Associated Information tab.Employment of Casual Professional Staff Policy
Section 1 - Background
Section 2 - Purpose
Section 3 - Application/Scope
Section 4 - Remuneration and Working Arrangements
Remuneration and Minimum Engagement
Overtime
Additional Work (Continuing or Fixed Term Staff)
Meal Breaks
Notice periods - Termination of Casual Engagement
Superannuation for Casual Staff
Section 5 - Leave Provisions for Casual Staff
Unpaid Personal/Carer’s Leave for Casual Staff
Unpaid Compassionate Leave for Casual Staff
Unpaid Parental Leave for Casual Staff
Long Service Leave for Casual Staff
Section 6 - Conversion from Casual to Non-casual Employment for Professional Staff
Eligibility for Conversion
Top of Page
Section 7 - Related Procedures
Approval to Fill a Position
Offer of Employment
Casual Staff Employment Kit
Induction
Payment Record
Section 8 - Approvals
Section 9 - Revisions made to this Policy
Date
Major, Minor or Editorial
Description
8 April 2014
Major
Updated to incorporate the provisions of the Australian Catholic University Staff Enterprise Agreement 2013 - 2017 and the Educational Services (Post-Secondary Education) Award 2010.
29 August 2018
Editorial
Updated in line with submitting timesheets via Staff Connect to record hours worked.
20 January 2020
Major
9 Dec 2021
Major
Updated to incorporate the provisions of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Your Future, Your Super) Bill 2021.
Section 10 - Further Assistance
Section 11 - Associated Information
View Document
This is the current version of this document. You can provide feedback on this document to the document author - refer to the Status and Details on the document's navigation bar.
Updated to incorporate the provisions of the ACU Staff Enterprise Agreement 2017-2021.
Policy originally titled Employment of Casual Staff Policy and amended to include the word “Professional”.