Workplaces

Analysis and Comment (10)

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Online retailer Amazon has come in for criticism since it was revealed they electronically tag their factory workers – does this represent the ‘new world’ of work? Scottish Government

The brave new world of work: where employees are treated as criminals

By Anthony Elliott, University of South Australia

Every age has its estimate of the pressures and perils of work. Adam Smith, writing in the 18th century, focused on the toil and trauma of work. Karl Marx, writing in the 19th century, spoke of the alienation…
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The conviction of Rio Tinto executive and Australian citizen Stern Hu for industrial espionage in 2010 highlighted the importance of managing issues of ethnic identity in China. AAP

Understanding identity is the key to succeeding in China

By Shea Fan, University of Melbourne

The 21st century is predicted to be Asia’s century. As the leading economic power in Asia, China has become a popular business partner for many countries notably Australia. With increasing business interactions…
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This is Canberera calling: Prime Minister Julia Gillard emphasises the importance of teleworking via videolink to a conference in Melbourne. AAP

Go forth and telework — but will it work for you?

By David Lamond, Victoria University

At yesterday’s Telework Conference at Melbourne Unversity, Prime Minister Julia Gillard — who delivered a speech via videolink — committed to a target of 12% of Commonwealth public servants working from…
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Aesthetics are becoming increasingly important in the modern workplace. flickr_thinkpanama

Beauty and the business: why looks increasingly matter at work

By Chris Warhurst

Looks matter, both in our social and working lives. We want to look good and our employers expect us to look good, or at least want us to look a particular way. This requirement is a double-edge sword…
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Trials of a working mother: Kirstie Marshall was at the centre of controversy after she breastfed her 11-day-old baby in state parliament in 2003. AAP

For women to have it all, we have to change the way we work

By Eva Cox, University of Technology, Sydney

Who said we could have it all, anyway? This notion is a media myth that somehow translated the idea that women should not be excluded from any sphere on the basis of sex into the sexy but fallacious view…
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Some 67% of organisations offer no training on social media use. Phillie Casablanca

‘Social organisations’ emerge but lack strategy and governance

By Jim Macnamara, University of Technology, Sydney

Almost half of all businesses and organisations in the private and public sector in Australia and developed Asian countries are now using social media, according to research by KPMG. A new term – “the…
Jobsmagic
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who died on Thursday, played a major role in romanticising middle-class occupations. AAP

How Steve taught us to love our Jobs too much

By Melissa Gregg

In a commencement address delivered at Stanford University in 2005, a speech that many are reading again this week, Steve Jobs told assembled graduates he was lucky to have found what he loved to do early…
Accountants
People naturally develop relationships, so is it possible to eliminate bias in professional settings? gonzalo_ar

Accountants are humans too – the problem of ‘attachment bias’

By Colin Ferguson, University of Melbourne and Jane Hronsky, University of Melbourne

Media commentators, regulators, and the judiciary continually express their concerns over the independence of auditors and other accounting professionals when they prepare expert reports. Typically, this…

Research Briefs (2)

‘Hazard pay’ for sexual harassment

Vanderbilt University

Both men and women workers who are at risk of sexual harassment on the job are paid more for exposure to that risk, according…

Participants (44)