Qantas selling access to elite first-class lounges, making mental health days a right, and more top news

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

Qantas is throwing open the doors of a handful of its first-class and business class lounges – for those willing to pay. The Australian carrier “quietly rolled out” the new program in recent days, with passengers able to pay their way in regardless of the airline they’re flying. Travellers can pay $150(USD) to access the elite Qantas first-class lounge in Los Angeles and $75(USD) for Heathrow. Sold access will be “at the discretion of the lounge manager,” according to Qantas, and less likely “during peak hours.” Here’s what people are saying.

Should workers be able to take mental health days without a medical certificate? The debate is gaining momentum in Corporate Australia, The Australian reports. Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott says that the nation’s approach “isn’t working,” following the recent revelation that “the economic cost” of mental health was $180 billion. Allocating workers specific days for mental health would “disadvantage” those needing personal time for other reasons, detractors say. Westacott argues workers should feel safe to divulge mental health issues “as a starting point.” Here’s what people are saying. 

Australia’s business leaders are mobilising behind calls for the federal government to start formally allocating funds to fast-tracking infrastructure spending, The AFR reports. Mark Steinert, the chief executive of Stockland, Australia's largest property developer, has joined economists and Reserve Bank officials in calling for the funding of a Sydney to Canberra high-speed train and a cluster of other rail projects. Steinert says high-speed rail provides jobs growth, improves productivity, reduces congestion and provides “sustainable, improved mobility.” Here’s what people are saying.

We know Big Brother is watching our online activity, but is it possible it's getting worse? Over a hundred of the most visited websites are "fingerprinting" their visitors, stealthily collecting information about your computer to create a unique picture of your device. While the data can help websites bolster security and block harmful bots, it’s often collected without user control or consent. The “digital strip search” threatens users’ anonymity, and it’s a growing threat in the online world. Here’s what people are saying.

Describing yourself as “stressed” at work may actually be masking a whole different set of problems, the ABC says. Susan David, a Harvard Medical School psychologist, says that using the word typically disguises something more specific. We may say we are stressed when we actually aren’t, she argues. Instead, we might be feeling “disappointed, unsupported, or worried." The best way to overcome this is to build an alliance and sense of trust with your reporting manager. Workers should be able to speak openly, "without fear of repercussion." Here’s what people are saying. 

Idea of the Day: Age is not a predictor of potential, performance or skill, says Alistair Cox, CEO of Hays.

“Chronological age doesn’t define who we are, inside or outside of work, nor should it be used as a predictor of career success, ambition or drive.”

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

— Andrew Murfett