Casual Employment - Part Time Jobs With Full Time Problems

Shout out to everyone who works in a casual position by the way, you're all MVPs

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First jobs are something of a rite of passage that every teenager or young adult must end up in and experience. It doesn't need to be the most glamorous job or the highest paying job, but it's a job. For many at that age, it's a truly never-before-experienced thing. You have to craft an application (or walk into a place of business) and ask to be taken on as part of a team with no experience to your name. What you end up doing will depend on the industry your position is in, but for the most part you're not exactly being given a ton of responsibility. Many of these workers are still in school, be it primary or posts-secondary, and the few dollars they make on the job are likely being spent to fill the gas tank and finance the evening out with friends. It's a situation where the expectation matches the experience; You have an unskilled worker that you can train up to do some tasks around the shop, but for the most part they are there for two reasons...

They want money

They want experience

Let's face it, most people will not land a "First Job" and be instantly in love with it to the point where they want to turn it into a career. What it does do is at as a stepping stone to greater thing with the added benefit that squeezing that stone can produce a little money for the effort. Therein lies some of the benefit of the "Casual Position"... It's Casual!

Casual employment is not for everyone though, and while it serves a purpose to a set demographic, it is not viable for many in the year 2022. Cost of living has increased, and casual employment has become more of a burden than a boon to your efforts to finance your existence as certain life events unfold. Yes, as a first job it's good enough (not many people end up on a salary out of the gate). For those wanting a side hustle, it's probably going to be the best fit. For anyone in the retirement period of their life and trying to stave off boredom, this is likely the best option.

And yet increasingly often we are seeing adults in their "Primary Working Age" working these casual positions. What happened? Is it a generational decision? Why are there so many people occupying these part time ventures when only a few decades ago it was so much more uncommon? Surely the pay and experience can't be that good. Once you look into it, you realize that for many people it's not a choice, it's a problem.

So what makes casual employment different from full time salaried employment? What are the problems that come with casual employment? And what are some of the ways that someone stuck in the casual employment cycle can fight back against the problems that come up?

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Choose your flavor

Anyone who has been an active participant in the job hunt over the last few years knows the difference between all the terms that come with it. When searching for a job, there are seven key descriptions that come in three different groups, and each posting will have an element that comes from each group.

Full Time vs Part Time

Salary vs Casual (or Hourly)

Work From Home vs Hybrid vs On Site

Our main concern is with those first two groups, and typically the terms come in pairs. You have either Full Time Salary positions (giving us full time employment) or Part Time Casual (giving us casual employment). Yes, there can be full time casual employment, but it isn't nearly as common as part time. So what's the difference other than the name...?

Let's start with the two obvious ones: Hours worked and method of pay.

The salaried employee will be given a number which represents what they will be compensated over the course of a year, while the casual employee will be given a number which represents their hourly wage. This ties in well enough with the hours they get, with the salaried employee typically being mandated a 40 hour work week and the casual employee being mandated whatever hours they get. These hours will also be distributed differently, with a salaried employee having what is usually a set schedule to complete their work. The casual employee can see their hours be all over the map and inconsistent with any set schedule.

There are other differences at play here that are not as clearly advertised. Typically, the salaried employee will get a benefits package, consisting of dental care, health care, and the chance at a discounted insurance. The casual employee will not get this package. As well, the salaried employee will begin to accrue vacation time and have the option to take paid time off. Again, the casual employee will not get this package. Finally, and though not easily identified, salary staff will often get opportunities to step outside of the normal scope of their work to pursue other opportunities offered in the working world. Casual employment does not typically see this as an option.

The scales seem tilted in favor of the salaried employee, but not everyone's lifestyle is the same. Casual employment is not always bad. There are people (as I touched on earlier) that prefer the conditions of casual employment. It has less hours (and less commitment) with a more flexible schedule. For many people, this is a great prospect. The problems start to rise up when people who would be better suited for salary positions (and cannot obtain them) are forced to rig casual employment to function like salaried employment.

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Keeping it casual

A quick glance of the news will see plenty of stories citing that there are companies struggling to find employees and that the job market is geared towards the worker. And yet there are many who will tell you the exact opposite; Finding that next job is an impossible task. Where's the disconnect? It comes from the fact that what the employees are seeking is not what is on offer. Many of those who are looking for work are seeking those salaried jobs, and all the positions on offer fall into the realm of casual employment. Job hopping would be a viable tactic, but if the job movement is lateral between casual positions, you're not really seeing your goals achieved. And here's where the problems start for those who are trapped in the casual employment world...

Piecemeal Pay

If you're just starting out in the working world or are filling your days as a semi-retiree, then the money you make at your job is likely not the forefront of your day-to-day worries. For those who find themselves in casual employment situations and who cannot break into the salaried market, pay is a problem. There are bills to pay (living independently and being an adult is expensive) and the often lower wages that come with casual employment just don't cut it. You can only stretch the budget so thin before things come apart. Not only are you looking at the low-ish wages, but those wages are tied to your hours, and those hours are not guaranteed! It means people will attempt to balance their personal budget on an income that can fluctuate, and that's about as stable as it sounds. Not only that, people will often push themselves past the point of what is typically their sustainable best in an effort to keep the manager pleased. Why? Because they often have direct control over the hours. It makes for an unhealthy environment, and that's a problem. Speaking of hours...

Frankenstein Schedule

"Not making enough money? Get another job!" is the line I'm sure at least some among you have heard thrown out over the course of your days. The thing is... many people in this situation have done just that... more than once. Carrying two or three (or more) jobs at a time is becoming increasingly common and acts as a monetary insurance policy to ensure hours are available when and if the need arises. So what's the problem? Each employer does not care what the other one does, and will often demand close to open availability while offering nowhere close to enough shifts to justify the expectation. It leaves those in casual employment with a situation where they need to balance their schedule like a Jenga tower, with some shifts being early, some late, some on weekends, and some with little notice. The scheduling means that the employee gets burned out and it leaves the employer upset over what they may perceive as someone not being a team player when asked to come in against their availability. Compare all this to a person on a salary position where the schedule is typically the exact same on a weekly basis and you can see where this is a pain.

On The Bottom

When budget cuts hit an organization and people need to be let go, who are the first ones to get looked at? When training opportunities come around, who are the ones that get the lowest priority? When plans don't go as expected and people need to be scrambled to fix the issue, who's getting the call? The casual employee is expected to be the first to take the proverbial bullet in many cases as it is seen in many cases that they are not the best place to sink resources. For those trying to break out of casual employment, things like training opportunities and stability to get good at a job are critical, and they are often withheld on the basis that they are casual employees.

Bite The Budget

Companies don't want to expend any more money than necessary. There are certain expectations and requirements that come with full time work, and by creating casual positions companies can get around some of these rules. Enter the concept of the almost-full-time casual employee. It's the ultimate show of "We want you here but don't want to give you any more than absolutely required". Some of you may have experienced this scenario: You are given a casual position (meaning no benefits, no paid time off, no vacation, and no guaranteed schedule) with 38 hours per week. I've already mentioned that pay is often lower in these positions which is a bummer, but these are situations where employees are being asked to be as good as salaried coworkers on a budget.

The other fun idea that fits here is the whole "employees get a break after a certain number of hours" thing. Can't have people sitting around eating into our budget, so let's schedule them for exactly the amount of time before they are legally mandated a break with 15 minutes knocked off so they don't get one. If you do this, yes, the employees know what you're doing and they think it sucks. If you schedule someone for this and then ask them to stay a few minutes late and extend their shift "unplanned", it is not a good look and, once again, employees can see exactly what you're doing.

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Getting in front of it all

If you find yourself trapped in the cycle of casual employment, you may find yourself dealing with some of the problems I mentioned above. How can you get ahead of it all while you continue the search for a salaried position? Relying on the business side of things is not likely an option, so here's some ways to put the power back in your hands:

Know Your Value

Demand is high for casual employment sector jobs right now, and businesses will try to poach good people from each other if they can. Take a few minutes and research whether you are making a comparable amount of money to the average in your industry. If not, you've just found a reason to either job hop or ask for a raise, especially if you know you're good at what you do. It's not going to get you into a salary position, but it could get you a few extra bucks per hour.

Set Boundaries and Don't Budge

Be up front right away when it comes to scheduling. If you need to hold days of the week off for other employment, hold those days and don't budge on it. A favor can turn into an expectation if left unchecked and leave you trying to balance being a "Team Player" and "Not Double Booked". Companies need to be the ones that handle personal and staffing, and by offering a casual position they need to understand the commitment of the people they are bringing on. If they cannot do that, it may be time to look elsewhere.

Be Tactically Ambitious

If you see an opportunity to get additional training that you feel can help advance you into the world of salaried employment, ask for it. Let the employer be the one to make the decision as far as where you fit in the organization and balance your schedule accordingly. Giving your time to a company that wants you there will be so much more rewarding and, in the long term, stands to benefit you more in the future.

Know Your Position and Read Read Read

Many employers benefit on people not knowing what can and cannot be mandated. They also benefit from people signing off on employment terms without reading them and understanding them. Yes, I will fully admit that this is not only preventative but also a fairly dramatic suggestion, but if you find yourself feeling bullied by your employer in the workplace, give your employment terms and rights a read and see what's there. It may surprise you.

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Employing a working strategy

Casual employment comes with its ups and downs, and it's here to stay. If you are fortunate enough to reap the benefits the employment type has to offer, that's awesome! If not, mitigating the problems and weathering the storm in the meantime is the best you can do. Recently there have been a number of unionization movements across Canada and the USA that have seen casual staff doing their best to take control of their workplace and see their casual employment status bolstered, and while this strategy works, it also takes time. The suggestions above are meant to help in the short term with the hopes that you can have a better long term, but it's an interesting idea for those who see casual employment as their "Long Term". At the end of the day, fight for yourself and what makes your work experience more beneficial for you. Employment should not be a source of problems; Life's too short and there are bigger things to worry about than the workplace. Good luck to those of you who are seeking to break into the salaried world, you got this!

~IR

Are you working a casual or part time position? Have you noticed any of these problems in your current role? Maybe you just have a comment to add? Check out the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn page and let everyone know. Don't forget to follow or like the page for updates! And share this article if you feel others should give it a read!

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