How Employers Should Treat Casual Staff: Tips for Baby Boomers and Seniors

How employers treat casual staff can be wonderful, as many baby boomers and seniors already know from their previous job experiences, even though they may wonder if things have changed nowadays.

Casual staff often covers for full time and part time staff in numerous, different capacities. Many employers warmly welcome casual staff. They appreciate the availability of casual workers, the sincere efforts they put forth on their behalf, as well as the varied services that they have to offer.

What is the legal definition of casual staff or a casual employee?

According to “Webster’s New Law Dictionary”, a casual staff member is one who is “an employee of less than full-or part-time status; an occasional or temporary employee.”

Unfortunately, many employers see casual employees as problematic. 

They do not like employing casual staff, as the casual staff may be unfamiliar with the place of employment, routine and job description. Repeated orientation of casual staff may seem to be an inconvenience to them. It entails additional bookkeeping, but has the advantage of reduced payout with respect to wages.

Many times, employers exploit casual employees by forcing them to work at minimum wage, regardless of their professional status, academic profile, previous experience, training or skill sets. Employers often avoid paying benefits for casual staff and thus, save money.

With the increase in the cost of employee wages over the past few decades and the rising cost of employee benefits, there has been a gradual transition of full time employees to part time employees or casual staff. More and more people now have casual jobs in businesses, companies and organizations.  This can make their lives difficult.

How employers treat casual staff may put the lives of casual workers in danger. Many casual workers are replaced or even continually replaced by employers and thus, they have no job security or benefits.

Consider the following positive, constructive guidelines for employers.

Ideally, how employers should treat casual staff is on par with how they treat their full time or part time staff. 

Employers should treat casual staff with respect, particularly if they expect them to return in the future.

Respect is a key element in the treatment of any staff member, regardless of his or her employment status.

Employers should welcome casual staff warmly and offer appropriate job orientation, without belittling them in any way because of their employment status.  

Employers should explain job descriptions to casual employees in such a way that they understand them fully.

Employers should offer appropriate supervision to casual employees and specific guidelines for them to follow. At times, a buddy system works well for causal employees.

Employers should protect casual employees with respect to potential accidents or injuries by ascertaining their training is appropriate with respect to various skill sets. At times, it may be necessary to offer training programs for them.

Employers should protect casual workers from workplace bullying or harassment by other employees.

Employers should offer appropriate incentives, bonuses and rewards to casual employees, especially if they expect them to return at some time in the future.

Employers should use integrity at all times, with respect to casual employees. This includes paying wages on time, without unanticipated deductions. Employers should pay an appropriate, fair wage in conjunction with that accorded to full or part time staff members, based upon the casual employees professional status, academic credentials, training and skill sets.

Employers should keep casual employees happy, if possible. Casual employees should not be subject to unfair treatment in any respect including hours of work, breaks, meals, etc.

For employers, understanding the nature of casual employment is important, as many casual employees go from job to job. The reputation of their employer or place of employment follows them wherever they go, so it is important that the employer use integrity, at all times. The casual employees should be able to trust them and confide in their employers.

A casual employee who has worked hard and done a good job deserves recognition, as well as hearing the words, thank you, from his or her employer.