| For many Australians, both employers and | | | | employees aged between 45 and 60 years of |
| employees, the workplace continues to be a place | | | | age will be 65%. Many industries are not presently |
| of harmony where each goes to work discharges | | | | equipped to cope with this radical change in age |
| their individual responsibilities and continues to get | | | | demographics and it is now time for industry and |
| on with life. | | | | government to work together preparing the way |
| This is confirmed by government statistics that | | | | ahead. |
| suggest that 1,000 people per week are migrating | | | | Recent studies have belied the myth in respect to |
| to Queensland, Australia to live. The attraction is | | | | older workers and concluded that mature |
| lifestyle; affordable property and housing, | | | | workers are productive, however, there still |
| progressive government development and | | | | continues to be muddied perceptions about age |
| support for new business initiatives and low | | | | related workers (Productivity of Mature and Older |
| unemployment. | | | | Workers: Employers' Attitudes and Experience - |
| In addition there are a large proportion of | | | | ACIRRT 1996). |
| immigrants coming to our shores from the United | | | | Grey power will increasingly become more |
| Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand to name | | | | important as enterprises endeavour to stay |
| a few. | | | | ahead of the pack and retain mature aged |
| Sadly amongst this good news there are some | | | | workers who have skills, experience and |
| concerns amongst employers and employees | | | | competencies to contribute to industry and |
| alike. Over the last 10 years with out-placing, | | | | business. |
| downsizing, outsourcing, redundancies, and other | | | | The industrial relations arena continues to be highly |
| interesting forms of industrial justification for | | | | regulated and subject to many acts. These |
| off-loading employees, the workplace has been | | | | include,o Common Lawo Australian & State |
| experienced as difficult and for some 'a house of | | | | Industrial Relations Acts/Regulationso Workplace |
| pain'. | | | | Relations Act 1996 - Federalo Workplace Health |
| However, the industrial relations environment in | | | | & Safety Actso Anti-Discrimination Act |
| Queensland and Australia continues to evolve in | | | | 1991o Human Rights and Equal Opportunity |
| response to business concerns, community | | | | Commission Act 1986o Trade Practices Act 1974 |
| expectations and continuing pressure on the | | | | - section 53Bo Income Tax Assessment Act |
| government to ensure that unemployment is kept | | | | 1936 & other Tax Legislation |
| low with the additional concern of the | | | | A move towardso Awards - State & |
| Commonwealth Government on the continuing | | | | Federalo Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBA)o |
| drain on the welfare system. | | | | Australian Workplace Agreementso Increased |
| There continues to be some pessimism by | | | | workplace mediation before legal action |
| employers about the economy and a lack of trust | | | | We are making progress in employer / employee |
| which has seen a delay in employing more | | | | relationship there are many enterprises and |
| full-time workers especially in the small to medium | | | | employees who continue their day to day |
| enterprise sector. This is confirmed by research | | | | businesses without having experienced these |
| which suggests that the particiaption of casual and | | | | concerns. |
| contract employment has increased markedly | | | | Employers can take measures that increase their |
| However, Queensland has made some large | | | | understanding and educate employees to |
| inroads into creating an environment conducive to | | | | understand their rights and responsibilities and |
| small business growth. | | | | thereby protect themselves for various |
| Because of the reducing birth rate in Australia it is | | | | workplace issues. |
| estimated that by 2010 the percentage of | | | | |