From Casual to Permanent Part-Time? Non-Standard Employment in Retail and Hospitality

Abstract

As the proportion of the Australian labour force accounted for by full-time, permanent employees continues to decline, the conditions of non-standard work have become increasingly important aspects of industrial negotiation and regulation. In this article we investigate the potential to enhance the conditions of non-standard work through the conversion of part-time positions from ‘casual’ to ‘permanent’ status. While this strategy formally addresses the insecurity of casual employment, our research suggests some limits to the capacity to impact on the broader process of ‘casualisation’ of employment conditions. In the sections of retail and hospitality industries which we investigate, not only has negotiation of a transition from casual to permanent part-time employment proved difficult, there is little indication that permanent part-time status confers significant improvements. Moreover, in the current industrial relations environment, the potential to address more fundamental aspects of the conditions of non-standard work appears limited.