A New South Wales man who helped save his parents' home from a raging bushfire claims he was sacked from his job for taking the time off.

Key points: A council contractor says he lost his job after requesting a few days off to help his dad fight fires on the family property

A council contractor says he lost his job after requesting a few days off to help his dad fight fires on the family property Newcastle Council rejects the claim, saying the fact that he was fighting fires wasn't the reason for the termination

Newcastle Council rejects the claim, saying the fact that he was fighting fires wasn't the reason for the termination An employment lawyer says the council acted within its rights, but that casual workers are getting the short end of the stick

But Beau Carroll's employer, Newcastle Council, says this is not the case and that he was let go for different reasons.

Mr Carroll, 34, made the 200-kilometre journey from Newcastle to Bobin, on the Mid North Coast last week, after losing phone contact with his parents, whose house was being threatened by bushfires.

"I didn't know whether there'd be a house left, I didn't know what the situation was at all," Mr Carroll said.

"I'd heard on the Friday night that a close family friend lost his house so we were prepared for the worst."

Mr Carroll and his father waiting anxiously for the flames to arrive. A family friend had lost his house a few days before. ( Supplied: Kevin Carroll )

'Back on Wednesday'

Mr Carroll arrived at his parents' property on Saturday to find it was still standing, but with the catastrophic conditions predicted last Tuesday around the corner, Mr Carroll decided he needed to stay.

He was working as a short-term contractor for the Newcastle Council's bush regeneration program and was employed via temp agency Forsythes Recruitment.

On Sunday he texted his employer to let them know he would not be able to make it in and would likely be back by the middle of the week, but lost phone signal shortly thereafter.

Mr Carroll sent a text message requesting a few days to help family. ( Supplied: Beau Carroll )

"It was clear it was going to get us on the Tuesday, it was too late to leave," Mr Carroll said.

"Dad and his friend, who'd lost his house previously, was up there — we knew it was coming all day."

The trio managed to save the home from what Mr Carroll described as a "terrifying", fast-moving bushfire, which claimed three sheds on the property and some 20 homes nearby.

Employer 'fails the pub test'

Mr Carroll said when he regained a phone signal on Thursday he was heartened to receive a text message back from council telling him that he would not have to come in for the rest of the week.

The message ended in "cheers".

But when Mr Carroll touched base with Forsythes Recruitment he was told the council had terminated his contract, days after they had been notified that he had needed to take the time off.

"To be honest I'd been quite distressed to find out about it," Mr Carroll said.

"I'd been up all week — they basically said 'bad luck.'

"They explained it was because of past punctuality problems, which I strenuously deny.

"It doesn't pass the pub test.

"I think it's a low act to get rid of someone under these circumstances."

Beau was able to help his father save the family home, but a number of sheds on the property caught alight. ( Supplied: Kevin Carroll )

'No guarantee' of employment

In a statement, Newcastle Council said it "rejects Mr Carroll's suggestion that his short-term contract ended" because he was fighting fires.

"The reasons for the termination are well known to Mr Carroll and the labour company through which he was employed," the council said.

Newcastle Council also said that it "offers permanent staff up to five days additional paid leave annually if they participate in volunteer work during a natural disaster."

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers Employment Law Principal Giri Sivaraman said the significant growth in casualisation and labour hire was leaving more people with less employment rights.

"Fifteen to 20 percent of all Australian employment is casual and it is a precarious workforce — they can be dismissed far more easily, there's no guarantee of employment," Mr Sivaraman said.

"Sometimes I have to deliver them the bad news and tell them they're without protection under the law."

But Beau Carroll said the temporary nature of his job should not have made a difference.

"Just because you're not properly on the books doesn't mean you don't deserve notice and consideration of your own circumstances," he said.