Why open plan is not the best plan

It’s obvious that background conversations and noisy environments degrade cognitive performance and increase distraction for workers and new research explains why.

Arbeit macht frei

The appalling conditions suffered by some migrant workers in the United States is mirrored by long standing abuses of workers rights in this country as well.

Suck up to the power

The billionaire moguls who run the tech giants once opposed government power but in sucking up to Donald Trump to gain commercial favour they’re shamelessly copying China’s model of corporate-state partnership.

Greenwashing won’t wash

Companies engaging in ‘greenwashing’ to appear more favourable to investors don’t achieve durable financial stability in the long term, according to a new Murdoch University study.

Delivering in 43 degrees

For better or worse, food delivery drivers have become ubiquitous on the roads – and pavements – of Australia’s cities, braving the heat of summer and impatient traffic for very little in the way of reward.

The secret pleasures of schadenfreude

It’s human nature to take pleasure in the misfortunes of others sometimes, particularly in the cut-throat world of modern business, but showing some empathy and a willingness to learn from those mistakes might be more productive.

A fresh start at work

Fresh starts can open the door to change. But lasting momentum depends on what we build after the novelty wears off. The real skill isn’t setting goals when motivation is high. It’s designing goals that survive the weeks when it isn’t.

Hybrid new year!

For jobs that allow it, hybrid work is the new normal, allowing employees to work from home as well as the office, so both workers and managers must navigate new ways to keep people connected, social and happy in the blended workplace.

Making the most of work meetings

Business meetings reflect an organization’s culture, power dynamics, and implicit priorities and can suppress rather than encourage ideas, but well-run meetings can also become spaces of co-construction, respect, and collective innovation.

A closer look at flexible work

New research shows that workers benefit from flexible work arrangements when employers align policies with individual preferences rather than uniform mandates.

Who benefits from “hustle culture’?

Hustle culture is failing to help young people generate wealth, with most still tied to their 9-5 jobs despite investing hours of their personal time each week on a side venture, according to a recent international study.

Spying from home

The normalisation of remote work in the wake of the pandemic has allowed swathes of hostile foreign operatives to penetrate Australia’s businesses and public agencies under the cover of legitimate employment.