Glossary & Acronyms

Employment law terms starting with D: daily hire employment, who counts as a de facto partner for leave purposes, and workplace discrimination under the Fair Work Act and anti-discrimination laws. Plain-English definitions for Australian employers, with links to our guides.

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Terms and definitions

Daily hire

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Daily hire employees as those who are entitled to only one day's notice of termination regardless of working full-time or part-time.

De facto partner

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A de facto partner is someone who lives with an employee in a couple-like relationship on a genuine domestic basis, regardless of their sex.

Discrimination

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Discrimination is the unfair treatment of someone based on personal characteristics such as race, gender, age, disability, or other protected attribute.

General information only

This content is general information about Australian employment law, current at the date it was last reviewed. It does not take your circumstances into account and is not legal advice. For advice about your situation, call Employment Compass on 1300 144 002.

Last reviewed: October 2026