Daily hire

Daily hire is a type of employment where the employer can end the employment with a very short notice of just one day. This might be used in industries where work demands fluctuate rapidly. The ability to employ someone on a daily hire basis must be specifically allowed in the relevant employment award or agreement.

Where daily hire still applies

Daily hire is now uncommon. Under the Fair Work Act, daily hire employees in the building and construction industry and in the meat industry are excluded from the National Employment Standards notice of termination rules, so their notice comes from their award or agreement instead. They still get the other National Employment Standards, such as leave. For example, a construction worker engaged on a daily hire basis under an older enterprise agreement may only be entitled to one day's notice under that agreement.

Read our guide to notice periods.