CASUAL WORKER STARTER SETUP FOR MANAGERS
Summary
This article includes how to submit a Casual Worker Starter request.
Work should not start until a Right to Work has been completed either with the Faculty/School team or People Services.
Key Information and Supporting Policies and Procedures
At the University of Manchester, casual workers are engaged for short-term, flexible roles that support various departments and services. These positions are typically employed for up to 13 weeks and are ideal for individuals seeking temporary work without a long-term commitment.
If required, please ensure you have discussed any budgetary/planning impacts with your Faculty Operations/Finance teams.
Common Roles for Casual Workers
Casual staff are employed across multiple areas of the university, including:
- Examination Invigilators: Assisting during exam periods to ensure smooth administration and adherence to regulations.
- Event Support Staff: Providing assistance during events, conferences, and other university activities.
- Library Assistants: Supporting library operations, including shelving, cataloguing, and assisting library users.
- Sports Centre Assistants and Fitness Instructors: Working at facilities like the Armitage Sports Centre, assisting with sports activities and fitness sessions.UoM Sport
- Administrative Support: Performing clerical tasks such as data entry, filing, and general office duties.
- Student Ambassadors and Peer Mentors: Engaging with prospective students and providing guidance to peers.
- Research Assistants: As required by Mentors/PIs with available grants
Key Characteristics of Casual Employment
- Flexibility: Casual workers have no obligation to accept work, and the university has no obligation to provide work.
- Short-Term Engagement: Positions are typically for up to 13 weeks, suitable for covering peak periods or specific projects. Any period longer than 13 weeks should be considered for substantive appointments.
- Payment: Casual workers are paid monthly for the hours worked, with deductions for tax and National Insurance as applicable.
- No Continuous Employment Rights: Casual staff do not accrue continuous employment rights, and their engagement ends automatically after the agreed period.
Recruitment Process for Hiring Managers
To employ a casual worker, appointing managers typically need to:
- Approval: Obtain approval from relevant departmental heads and budget holders by completing Casual Authorisation Appointment form. This should be uploaded to the Connect job alongside the Job Description.
- Consider Post Requirements: Start/end date, grade and spine point in line with expected tasks, total expected spend (liaising with Finance Research teams if research funded) and how you will recruit your casual, job site, local notices. Please speak with your finance team regarding any ‘on costs’ such as pension, tax, national insurance.
- Right to Work: If this can be completed within the school/faculty, it should be attached to the Casual Connect case with the Authorisation Appointment Form, and job description. It must be completed prior to any work being performed.
- Process: Approved Casual Authorisation Appointment Form should be uploaded to Casual Connect portal and this will produce a unique reference number. Job Descriptions must be attached. ID numbers of Casuals if known are helpful. If there are more than a single applicant being recruited, please use the Multiple Applicants form to upload.
- Induction and Training: Induction or training specific to the role is the responsibility of the hiring manager.
- Timesheets: Hours worked will be submitted to Faculty/School administrators by the Casuals for submission onto the Casual’s Timesheet system.
ResourceLink payroll systems will automatically generate:
Appointment letter
Joining documentation process in MyView
Guidance on how to set up a Casual and to see the policy, information is included in this StaffNet page and also here.