BHP’s luxury FIFO worker ‘mining camp,’ public speaking is increasingly important at work, and more top news

The news Australian professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation in the comments below.

BHP has built a $150 million “mining camp” to help lure and retain workers to a fly-in, fly-out operation adjacent to its largest iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara. The lavishly appointed, 2,500-room facility boasts a three-storey cafe, Cross Fit gym, virtual golf course, library, and a kitchen for “cooking masterclasses.” BHP says the site aims to rethink the ‘FIFO’ worker experience by helping to combat homesick workers’ mental health issues while also attracting a more diverse workforce. The mine is located 120 kilometres from the nearest town. Here's what people are saying.

Verbal communication is a “more than helpful” skill for Australian workers, with 70% of jobs listing it as “a critical necessity,” The Australian reports. But inside workplaces, public speaking “has an image problem.” The majority of Australian workers (61%) fear public speaking or speaking before a group of colleagues. Experts say employers can help overcome this by convincing their employees public speaking is an opportunity to “leverage your platform.” Presenting shouldn’t be “something to fear,” they say. Workers should instead be conditioned to see it as “a valuable opportunity.” Here's what people are saying.

The departure of Network Seven CEO Tim Worner “just days” before the company unveils its full-year results this week has alarmed market watchers, The AFR writes. Worner was replaced by an executive who made his own “acrimonious exit” from Seven eight years ago, James Warburton. He takes the reins at Australia’s top-rating network as it struggles to “grow meaningful new digital businesses.” Seven’s position among advertisers is “under extreme pressure,” as audiences swarm to streaming services and other digital alternatives. Here's what people are saying.

A persistent wealth gap has opened up between Baby Boomers and young Australian workers, new figures show. The chasm between children and their parents could lock young workers out of the "generational bargain" their parents enjoyed in the latter 20th century, when they reliably expected to fare better than their parents. Today, millennial workers globally have less wealth compared to predecessors at the same age. Although Australian household assets have tripled since 1990, “the wealth bonanza has been far from equally spread,” with increases concentrated in “older households.” Here's what people are saying.

The number of global companies embracing menstrual leave “as a workplace right” has increased significantly, The Sydney Morning Herald writes. But Australian activists remain split on whether it “promotes or undermines gender equality.” Companies globally are exploring varied options for workers suffering menstrual pain, “from extra days off at full pay through to extra breaks.” Academics say women workers fear “the stigma” of having to say why they require leave, and an Australian union leader said that the gender pay gap is a “more substantive” priority for her. Here's what people are saying.

Idea of the day: As with investing, what has worked for us professionally in the past may not do the same trick in the months and years to come. Legendary hedge fund manager Ray Dalio knows this lesson well. We can apply his investment wisdom to our careers as well. 

“People tend to extrapolate what they have gotten used to. Most investors tend to think that investments that have produced good returns over the past few years are good investments rather than less good investments because they’re more expensive, so they inappropriately buy more near the tops and sell more near the bottoms. That is the biggest mistake in investing.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.

— Andrew Murfett