Self-service checkouts are driving up theft, the company offering 'work free' Wednesdays, 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 recent “surge in shoplifting,” is being fueled in part by the prevalence of self-service checkouts among retailers. A new study examining 9,000 Australian and New Zealand retailers claims “light-fingered” shoppers are responsible for a growing proportion of the more than $3.3B lost annually, as shoplifting reaches a “crisis point” for the industry. In recent years, thieves have grown increasingly “more brazen,” retailers say, with cosmetics, meat and baby milk formula popular targets. More disturbingly “micro-gangs” are also reportedly “rushing stores and overwhelming attendants,” in significant numbers. Here’s what people are saying. 

Australia's corporate regulator plans to take ANZ to court over allegations the bank wrongly charged some customers fees when scheduled payments between their own accounts were missed. ANZ, which intends to defend the ASIC allegations, said it had previously set aside up to $50M to pay customers back for these charges — known as "periodical payment non-payment fees" — and denies any deliberate wrongdoing. The bank said it had already paid out $28M in compensation. Here’s what people are saying. 

Those who work in physical industries often face a difficult question: What happens when your body can't keep up? A 2018 survey showed almost a quarter of Australian tradies are not seeking help for an injury sustained on the job early enough, and it is estimated that work-related injuries — including in fields such as nursing and aged care — cost the Australian economy $60B each year. Physiotherapist David Hall told ABC Life that avoiding a culture that encourages (often young) workers to "be a hero" is key, as relatively minor injuries become far worse over time. Here’s what people are saying. 

With the rise of streaming services and the reduction in viewing numbers around Australia’s highest-rating shows, it may seem like the days of free-to-air television are numbered. But Ben Shepherd, the former director of PwC's media practice and now Chief Media Officer at CHE Proximity, says the majority of every demographic and age group still regularly watch free-to-air TV. Shepherd told GQ that free-to-air won't "end", but will reshape itself from a linear, broadcast product into a more curated, on-demand service consumed on a multitude of devices. Here’s what people are saying. 

What if your company banned work on Wednesdays? That’s what happened at the Melbourne-based digital marketing agency Versa, when it decided to shut down on Wednesdays, and offer staff a four-day working week while still paying them for the full five days. Workers initially feared closing down midweek would mean losing their competitive drive and missing vital networking opportunities. But instead, they have reorganised work patterns and actually grown more efficient as meetings become “more focused,” and staff grow less tolerant to idle chatter. Here's what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: When starting a new business, don't give up even though the odds will be against you, says Robert Herjavec, Herjavec Group Founder and a star for the TV series 'Shark Tank.'

“Remember that nobody will believe in your idea as strongly as you and by extension, nobody will know what you’re going through to succeed — except you.”