Public servant owns his criminal past, top sommelier claims he was underpaid, and more top news
The news Australian professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation in the comments below.
A convicted drug dealer is now in charge of New South Wales’ prisons, and one of the first things Michael Coutts-Trotter had to do after being made head of the NSW department of justice was write to 40,000 staff to own his criminal past. While many would already be aware of it, he wanted those who were not to hear it from him first, and he also explained that this history — including the two years and 9 months he spent in prison — would be an asset in managing the department.
A top sommelier is suing his former employer, alleging that he regularly clocked up excessive unpaid hours and was denied any redundancy pay despite 10 years’ service. Rodney Setter is taking action against his former bosses, Sepia chef Martin Benn and restaurant manager Vicki Wild, who strongly deny his claims, as well as the company behind the restaurant. Sepia closed in Sydney last year. The issue of underpayment in Australian restaurants has been highlighted by several recent high-profile media investigations.
Australia Post is pushing ahead with stores that only ship to China, in an effort to meet demand there for premium foreign-made goods. This so-called “daigou” trade — where people buy products such as Manuka honey, infant formula and vitamins overseas and ship them to China for resale — is showing no signs of slowing down, Bloomberg reports. Australia Post opened the first concept store with signs in Mandarin and Mandarin-speaking staff just under a year ago, and its success have seen several more opened in Sydney and Melbourne.
The push for ultra-fast electric car chargers is helping some Australian manufacturers, with electric vehicles predicted to make up more than half of all new car sales by 2040. Still, companies such as Brisbane’s Tritium are waiting for battery makers to catch up to help alleviate concerns that electric cars can’t travel long distances. “It’s about impacting that buying decision in the dealership,’’ Tritium CEO David Finn told Bloomberg. Tritium supplies high-power chargers to more than 25 countries.
Are you hiring people just like you without realising? The issue of similarity bias has been highlighted in a report by ABC Life, warning of the pitfalls of populating offices with people who have personalities, schooling histories, or even ethnic backgrounds similar to their boss. This can counter a push in workplaces to improve diversity, said Michelle Stratemeyer, an academic at the University of Melbourne. Research shows organisations with a diverse workforce are more likely to enjoy above-average profitability.
Idea of the Day: It’s important to feel connected at work, especially for graduates just starting their careers, says Taylor Rowland, a new hire at Oracle.
“Having people surrounding you makes you feel like you’ve got your own little family at the company.”
What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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5 年Stefan Smolenaers car companies need InvertedPower not batteries
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5 年I hope this to be applied to everyone one of similar situation, giving a fair go is required and part of social justice, but what if a person without connections with influential figures in the system, do you think this person would be given the same chance.
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5 年Disheartening when I get knock backs from jobs on a daily basis, and yet a convicted drug dealer is now in charge of NSW prisons! Employment in this country is a joke! While we are at it lets hire pedophiles as primary school principals.
Global Food Intelligence & Tactics for Governments, Food Producers & Farmers. International New Business Advisory (INBA) We deliver results. Founder of Microfinance Bank Indonesia (Yayasan)
5 年I cannot believe companies are still hiring people without using a profiling system to help build balanced teams. I have put over 3000 people in 14 countries through a profile system over the past 25 years. We even select our home staff on the basis they their natural traits of perfection and attention to details means we have the cleanest homes on the planet.? If you are not actively using a profiling system in a business poor choices will be part of the norm.??
"I could talk about industrialisation and men’s fashion all day but I’m afraid work must intrude.”
5 年Not wanting to sound to lefty: Hospitality workers are some of the easiest to abuse. They work odd hours and many come in when asked and hidden in their employment contract will be a clause about being paid for rostered work, so on those times they come in on request, they don't get full pay. There are many hospitality folk who aren't eligible for over time unless rostered hours are over x past their agreed rate and then there's the Superannuation issue. It's the sort of industry most people under value, until they pay $40 for a badly cooked steak, or their $300 per night room has a bed unmade. Companies should treat their employees well and work in good faith. Regardless of industry.