AUSTRALIAN BANKING and finance employees are less afraid of losing their jobs compared to their global counterparts
AUSTRALIAN BANKING and finance employees are less afraid of losing their jobs compared to their global counterparts. A worldwide survey of 1,493 bankers and finance workers found those working the following countries felt their jobs were least at risk:
Australia 50%
Singapore 33%
Hong Kong 28%
Only 30 per cent of Australian bankers felt their chances of being laid off over the next two years was highly likely, compared to the overall global figure of almost 40 per cent. Only 51 per cent of Australian bankers felt insecure in their jobs.
Source: eFinancialCareers
Aussie workers on drugs
WHILE ONLY 1 per cent of Australians have admitted to taking an illegal substance at work, 24 per cent have either seen or heard of a colleague taking an illegal substance while on the job. A survey of 1,734 Australian workers revealed those aged 18 to 24 years old are nearly five times more likely to have consumed an illegal drug while at work. A recent study found the impact of illegal drugs on employers worked out to be approximately $3.5 billion.
Source: Talent2
Fired Aussies remain furious
THIRTY-FOUR per cent of Australian workers admitted to being fired at least once in their working lives, and 71 per cent of these workers were furious as a result. Eleven per cent found pleasure in badmouthing the organisation while 16 per cent took legal action.
Source: Linkme.com.au
Companies not cost savvy
NINETY PER CENT of cost reduction programs fail to meet targets, resulting in lost opportunities for companies to increase profits and create a competitive advantage. The average company aimed to reduce costs by a modest 2 per cent per annum, but only 59 per cent expected savings to be achieved. Responsibility for cost management remained unclear as only 39 per cent of executives surveyed said all managers across the business had responsibility for cost management; while only 16 per cent said it was the responsibility of everyone across the organisation.
Source: KPMG
Aussies go public for transport
SIXTY-FOUR per cent of Australian workers use public transport to travel to and from work, while 36 per cent use it rarely or not at all. A survey revealed NSW workers were more likely to use public transport (79 per cent) while those in the ACT were least likely (48 per cent). More convenient access to services was rated as the main factor in using public transport by 30 per cent of respondents.
Source: Kelly Services
Women prefer Labor
SEVENTY-THREE per cent of Australian women think Kevin Rudd would be a better Prime Minister for women, compared to only 27 per cent who prefer John Howard. Of the 459 respondents to the survey, 44 per cent said policies that were more family friendly would influence their choice for PM while a further 26 per cent would prefer a leader who was up-to-date with women’s issues and modern day needs. Only 20 per cent said IR laws would impact on their vote.
Source: The Heat Group
No future for part-timers
FIFTY-FIVE per cent of Australian workers believe working on a part-time or flexi-time basis can hinder their climb up the corporate ladder. A survey of 1,731 workers found 17 per cent of females work on a part-time basis, compared to only 8 per cent of males, while 20 per cent of females work on a flexi-time basis compared to 15 per cent of males. Interestingly, 26 per cent of respondents believe that moving to a part-time or flexi-time arrangement meant an automatic disadvantage because of the types of jobs on offer.
Source: Talent2
Baby boomers shaky on super changes
THIRTY-NINE per cent of baby boomers are disinterested and disheartened with the new simplified superannuation rules. Research revealed 33 per cent were happy with the changes, while 28 per cent were perplexed but hopeful about simpler super. Over-50s thought the following groups should be responsible for communicating simpler super:
Super funds 89%
Government 72%
Financial advisers 30%
Workers also thought employers should be responsible for helping people understand the changes (31 per cent), while almost 70 per cent of people could not articulate any simpler super changes.
Source: Mercer Wealth Solutions
Aussies work on instant messaging
FORTY-ONE per cent of bosses allow employees to use instant messaging services. Survey results showed 46 per cent of the 1,732 respondents had used services such as MSN Messenger while at work, however, more than 50 per cent admitted their messaging was not only restricted to work-related matters.
Source: Talent2
CSR programs prove important worldwide
EIGHTY per cent of companies around the globe use some form of corporate social responsibility strategy or program. The study of seven countries revealed 64 per cent of companies from China provide company-sponsored volunteer events after work hours, while HR professionals in the following countries saw employee recognition as the best way to involve employees in corporate social responsibility:
USA 72%
Canada 68%
Australia 66%
About 66 per cent of HR professionals in Australia, Canada, China, India, Mexico and the US promoted their organisations’ efforts via a corporate publication while 60 per cent of businesses in Brazil considered the overall impact of their business decisions on corporate social responsibility policies.
Source: The Society for Human Resource Management
Aussies want to mix work and play
TWENTY-FIVE per cent of Australian workers have said they would like to escape the stress of work by having access to a plug-and-play room. A further 25 per cent of the 1,731 survey respondents said they would like to see the introduction of a meditation room in the office in order to bring a bit of peace and balance back to their life, while Generation Y workers would like the addition of a video game console to their work place (40 per cent).
Source: Talent2
