Employers have to give every new employee a copy of the Fair Work Information Statement before, or as soon as possible after, they start their new job.
Employers also have to give every new casual employee a copy of the Casual Employment Information Statement at the same time.
The Fair Work Ombudsman updates these documents from time to time. So its important to ensure you’re always distributing the latest version(s).
What is the Fair Work Information Statement?
The Fair Work Information Statement provides new employees with information about their conditions of employment.
The Fair Work Information Statement contains information on:
- the National Employment Standards
- right to request flexible working arrangements
- modern awards
- making agreements under the Fair Work Act 2009
- individual flexibility arrangements
- freedom of association and workplace rights (general protections)
- termination of employment
- right of entry
- the role of the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission.
What is the Casual Employment Information Statement?
Employers aren’t required to give casual employees the Casual Employment Information Statement more than once in any 12 month period (for example, if an employer employs a casual employee temporarily at different stages in a 12 month period, they only need to give them the Casual Employment Information Statement once.
The Casual Employment Information Statement has information about:
- the definition of a casual employee
- when an employer has to offer casual conversion
- when an employer doesn’t have to offer casual conversion
- when a casual employee can request casual conversion
- casual conversion entitlements of casual employees employed by small business employers
- the role of the Fair Work Commission to deal with disputes about casual conversion.
Providing employees with the Fair Work Information Statement and Casual Employment Information Statement
The Fair Work Information Statement and Casual Employment Information Statement can be given to employees:
- in person
- by mail
- by email
- by emailing a link to the relevant Fair Work Information Ombudsman web page
- by emailing a link to a copy of the Fair Work Information Statement available on the employer’s intranet
- by fax
- by another method.
Keeping a good record
To protect you and your business, you must keep a good record to confirm how and when you issued the Fair Work Information Statement and Casual Employment Information Statement to each worker. This is very important if you are ever ever need to prove this to the Fair Work Ombudsman or a court. Failure to provide this evidence may expose you and your business to big fines and penalties if prosecuted.
Tip for BetterHR subscribers: Use the ‘Fair Work Information Statement – Confirmation‘ template in the BetterHR letter wizard. To keep a good record of how and when you issued the Fair Work Information Statement to each worker.
Download the latest Fair Work Information Statement and Casual Employment Information Statement
You can download the latest Fair Work Information Statement and Casual Employment Information Statement from the Fair Work Ombudsman website or from the BetterHR portal if you’re an active subscriber.
