Qantas and Virgin set global benchmark for ‘getting money out of passengers,’ ACCC examining global tech giants, 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 and Virgin Australia are raking in some of the highest fees per passenger in the world, according to a new report. Australia’s airlines are envied globally for their ability to “get more money out of passengers above basic airfares,” with both landing in the top 10 for highest revenue per passenger, thanks to extras like seats with more legroom, meals, drinks and baggage fees. Qantas scoops up $1.6 billion annually, or $59 per passenger; Virgin Australia hauls in $50 per traveler. Here's what people are saying.

The tech giants are facing increased local regulation, after the release of a highly-anticipated report from Australia's consumer regulator. The report follows an investigation into the market power of internet behemoths that recommended establishing a new ACCC digital platforms branch to scrutinise the algorithms behind Facebook and Google. Australia's treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the volume of data swept up by the two internet giants was unprecedented, and the government accepted the ACCC's overarching finding that there is a need for reform.  Here’s what people are saying. 

The Australian consumer’s obsession with quality coffee is ushering in a high-end espresso machine sales boom, The AFR reports. Coffee snobs seeking to craft a barista-worthy single origin-brewed cup at home are driving up the sale of home coffee machines by 20% annually, with the market now worth about $250 million. Stores such as Harvey Norman are cashing in as brands demand between $5,000 to $6,500 for the machines, and coffee aficionados begin to chase beans with a passion “similar to the pursuit” of wine connoisseurs. Here's what people are saying.

An increasing number of doctors and medical practitioners are suffering from burnout and leaving the field of medicine. More than 40% of doctors are impacted by burnout or depression and more than half of all doctors have contemplated a job change, according to Medscape. Some 12% are looking to a career outside of medicine in fields such as health care administration, research or even tech. Although not without risk, doctors opting for a non-traditional path can often reap large rewards. Here’s what people are saying. 

Do performance reviews really capture the contributions of each team member? The typical corporate performance reviews focus too much on individual achievements rather than how good of a team player the employee is. And that’s likely the key reason why "jerks keep gaining power and influence," Quartz argues. To help counter this, the Australian tech company Atlassian has created an appraisal system that reviews employees based on their contribution to the company’s culture, rather than simply being a superstar in their own right. Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the day: Many of us spend a large portion of our lives trying to mold ourselves to match the expectations of others. But actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg says she refused to submit to such pressure. 

“I had to get compared to a whole bunch of folks before anybody would say, ‘You’re fine for the part.’ I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing, the way I was supposed to be doing it. It took people a very long time to get used to the fact that I was always going to be me.”

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

— Andrew Murfett