Employers will already be familiar with the Fair Work Information Statement which provides essential information to new employees about their rights, entitlements, and obligations under the Fair Work Act. This includes information about minimum wages, working conditions, leave entitlements, termination of employment, and dispute resolution processes.
The statement is given to all new employees regardless of their employment type before or directly after commencing employment to ensure they are aware of their rights and responsibilities in the workplace. Employers are also required to provide new casual employees a copy of the Casual Employment Information Statement. Its important that Employers take the time to understand what the definition of ‘casual’ means for their workplace under these recent changes and their obligations such as casual conversion for long term, regular casuals. This Statement provides information to this effect.
NEW & EFFECTIVE NOW: Fair Work Fixed-Term Contact Information Statements
Recently, new regulations have come in to effect regarding fixed-term and maximum-term contracts, drastically changing the duration and use of these types of agreements.
As of 6 December 2023, employers are now required to provide both the Fair Work Information Statement as well as the new Fixed-Term Contract Information Statement (FTCIS) to employees entering into a new fixed-term contract. A fixed-term employee has a contract that terminates at the end of a set period, such as at a set date, after a period of time or at the end of a season. There are now strict limitations on the use of this type of contract. The FTCIS provides employees with information about fixed-term employment, including the rules about when fixed-term contracts can be made.
All Information Statements can be provided to new employees:
- in person
- by mail to their residential address, or
- if the employee agrees, it can be given electronically, such as:
- by email
- by emailing a link to the Fair Work Information Statement page
- by emailing a link to a copy on your intranet
Your next step
- You can learn more about and access all 3 statements on the Fair Work website
- Review and update your internal hiring process to ensure that each new employee receives the Fair Work Information Statement as standard, and where appropriate the Casual Employment Information Statement and Fair Work Fixed Term Contract Information Statements
- Where Full Circle conduct your recruitment activities, we will ensure your obligations in this matter are met