Now this might get a tad confusing because I don't understand what I am doing!

I work once a fortnight in the High School Tuckshop - no pay, voluntary stuff. The Uniform lady - very nice - asks if I want to be trained to do Uniform Shop. No worries, says I so she trained me in a bit of MYOB and Eftpos and point of sale stuff. I have since done about four days paid work. The P&C Business Manager didn't want me to be paid but she said she wouldn't ask me to do it if I wasn't - Her feeling was although I am trustworthy why would I put myself in a position of maybe being accused of stealing money if I wasn't being paid for the job.

Am I babbling :rolleyes:

Anyway, I have now been given a contract as a casual worker who can be called in at any time. The paperwork for such a none job is amazing - I even have to fill in Super forms and the likelihood is that I will probably not do more than a few days a YEAR!

Now this is fine but where do I stand if I want to apply for a part time job - which I do. Can I take another job and just hope that the times I will be needed at the first High School won't ever cross with the regular hours at the other school. The job I am going for is only 15 hours a week put into 2 or 3 days.

Am I allowed to have as many part time jobs as I want? I guess that's what I'm asking, or does this casual part time stop me from doing other stuff?

I sort of need all this clear in my head because I want to ask first (very nice) lady for a reference but don't want to put her nose out of joint and don't want to not do first job because I like the people and enjoy working there.

my son worked in 3 pubs at the same time all part time pen :wink:

All at the same time - bugger me, he's one clever lad you've got there :P

I assumed it was ok, I was just thrown by having a contract as a casual - In my world that doesn't mean casual :lol:

Thanks for that.

The answer to your question, Pen, lies in the contract! :grin: Have you read it? Does it say anything in there about not working for anyone else? Sometimes this can be a condition of employment, though unlikely, I would have thought, in your case.

There is nothing in our current laws to stop anyone from having more than one job, casual or permanent. There are, however, tax implications. When you start a new job in Australia, you are asked to complete and sign a tax form/declaration. On this form you are asked if you want to claim the tax free threshold for this job - you can only claim it on one, so save it for the job which earns the most money. ;)

That sounds a bit confusing Pen as usually if you are a casual worker in the school you have to fill in a new starter sheet everytime they employ you....my file was horrendous before I got a more permanent temporary type job with them :blink:

It's probably because technically I am not employed by the school but by the P&C.

Thanks for the advice guys. Will bend nice lady's (her real name is Carol) ear on Thursday. Mind you I haven't actually applied for the other job yet so it's all hypothetical :rolleyes:

In answer to your orginal question, when I started as a casual member of staff at the school I was also going to be a casual worker at the local council both of which knew about the other one.

In the end the school found me work to keep me which suited me with the kids and school runs. So I don't think it matters at all but as PR has said think about how you are going to claim the tax threshold.

I work as a casual at several different places and have done so for several years. As a casual, I can inform any employer at any time if I am "not available" for work that week. They call me to ask if I'm available and if I am and I want the work I go in if not I say I am not available.

I'm a feisty bitch and if anyone starts any malarky with me about "but you said..." or "but you signed..." I inform them that if they want exclusive right to my time at pre-determined times they need to pay me a retainer or put me on permanent employment with all the appropriate benefits - sick pay, holiday pay etc.

As a casual I am entitled to quit or to be "unavailable" at a moment's notice, and they can fire me or tell me work is no longer available pretty much at a moment's notice.

However, because I am reliable, hardworking, do a good job, turn up when I say I will, rarely sick and always give as much advance notice as I can, I have built sufficient reputation within the industry, that I am in demand when work is available.

I applied at Aust post some years ago, the hours were 1pm to 5pm but you "had to be available by your phone" 9 am to 1pm in case they needed you to fill in suddenly. I asked them if they would be paying a retainer for that, they said no, but it suited some mothers at home etc so I told them it was exploitative and would not consider working for them under such conditions.

As a casual if you are fair, hardworking and reliable you can have the best of both worlds and you will be valued. But legally you own no-one any allegiance and everyone I work for knows my first loyalty is to myself. I like the sense of power, independence and self-sufficiency this provides me.

The Australian workforce is now close to 50% casualised, and exploitation is rife, which I think is abhorrent, so I've made it work for me and will not allow myself to be exploited.

Sorry to rant on but this is a very hot subject for me.

and now I must get back to work :wink:

Very best of luck Penny with whatever you do.

I'm cowering in the corner now :lol: thanks for that TC :thumbsup: Apparently my "appointment" was duly confirmed and ratified at the P&C meeting last night - this is the casual once in a blue moon job :D Apparently the Principal took umbrage (which she is very good at generally) that the job hadn't been advertised, interviewed blah blah blah and the president of the P&C told her that they wanted me, and it was nothing to do with her. :wacko:

Can't wait for the next time I see her or she works out which pupil belongs to me :o

Anyway lovely lady I help out has happily agreed to give me a reference so I'd better get off here and sort out the application for the 15 hour a week job :member:

OH dear your head sounds like the head i work for - does psycho bitch ring a bell?