{"id":499,"date":"2024-02-07T03:35:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T03:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.epayoffice.com.au\/?p=499"},"modified":"2024-02-26T04:30:26","modified_gmt":"2024-02-26T04:30:26","slug":"understanding-the-recent-changes-to-fixed-term-contracts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.epayoffice.com.au\/understanding-the-recent-changes-to-fixed-term-contracts\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Recent Changes to Fixed-Term Contracts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Fixed term contracts, as opposed to permanent contracts<\/em>, are those which expire after or at a specific time. An example of a fixed term contract includes where an employee is hired in a full-time position for 6 months to cover a permanent employee on parental leave, after which their employment with the organisation will cease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amendments to the Fair Work Act have set new limitations on the conduct and application of these contracts. If an employee is engaged under a fixed term contract after 6 December 2023<\/strong>, then their employment is subject to the following conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The use of fixed term contracts consecutively has also been limited. Employees are unable to engage with fixed term contracts if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with these limitations, employers must now also provide a Fixed Term Contract Information Statement (FTCIS) to any fixed term contract employees engaged following 6 December 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These changes were made to encourage the movement of employees from temporary arrangements into permanent employment. It aims to retain the flexibility that employers require to manage organisational needs, while providing further protections to employees who may be exploited through the use of fixed term contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some circumstances where these new limitations do not apply. These circumstances include where the fixed term contract is used for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employers are unable to conduct anti-avoidance protections,<\/em> which are actions made to avoid these new limitations. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a fixed term contract does not meet the new limitations, the end date specified in the contract will be voided. This means the employee will remain with the employer for an indefinite period of time, though the other terms and conditions of employment will remain the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat are the changes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Why were these changes made?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exceptions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Protections for employees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Fixed term contracts that don\u2019t meet the limitations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n