How workplaces are preparing for the Voice

This week, AFR Success spoke to leaders and executives at major Australian businesses to find out how they are preparing for Saturday’s referendum on the Indigenous Voice to parliament.

Why it matters | Given the vote has the potential to be hugely divisive, and some employees are likely to be upset with the result, AFR Success figured workplaces would have developed plans to prevent a natural differing in views leading to disunity in the workplace. And it turns out some had.

What they’re doing | Accenture, for example, has been directly contacting its First Nations employees to remind them that “it’s OK to not feel OK – and if you need to step out, that’s fine”, its executive sponsor of Indigenous inclusion and diversity programs, Brock Mahoney, says.

The consulting firm’s employee assistance provider will also be hosting sessions to support any Indigenous employees affected by the referendum result. And they have a dedicated support line “for anyone feeling triggered or overwhelmed, and who needs to speak to someone about their mental health”.

What next | Our lead story on the Voice this week also includes advice for workplaces on what to do after the referendum, from cultural awareness training company Evolve Communities. (Hint: ignoring the issue isn’t the answer.)

And the Australian leader of law firm Ashurst predicts a failed referendum would “galvanise people” and encourage employees who voted Yes to get more heavily involved in the firm’s work to promote Indigenous advancement.

Other news | We explore a movement one consultant described as “the biggest trend in HR right now” (and explain why you should care). Plus, we review data underscoring the thirst for learning in Australia’s workforce, help a worker become more productive at home, and learn why one hotel CEO avoids emails and shuns morning routines.

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Wealth wrap

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15 minutes with the Boss

Sarah Derry isn’t one of those CEOs who gets in an ice bath, meditates and reads a bit of Marcus Aurelius all before 5am. She tells Sally Patten in this week’s 15 Minutes with the Boss podcast that she prefers a more flexible morning routine.

Derry also reveals her coping mechanism for high-stress situations, what she learnt from running her own business, and why she tells people not to email her.

Ask an expert: Your questions answered

Ask an expert is our weekly column dedicated to helping readers overcome problems at work and get ahead in their careers. This week, Atlassian’s work futurist, Dominic Price, helps a reader get in the zone while working from home.

The problem: I tend to work from home two or three days a week to avoid an hour-long train ride each way. Once I’m in the flow, I’m normally more productive on these days because it’s quieter at home and none of my colleagues are distracting me. But sometimes I feel like it takes me longer than it should to get in the zone. What routines or strategies could I use to get in the right frame of mind more quickly? And what other work-from-home practices can I adopt to ensure I am as productive as possible?

Read the answer here.

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