Senate Humanity's Relationship with Work (aka the Bootstrap Myth)

In America ?
Even over here it's getting more and more market driven , but America has always been much more so .

 

@Jedi Merkurian you just need to run for President. We'll work into your whole campaign marketing. Or maybe you'd be more comfortable as VP for @anakinfansince1983 However we do it, we need to get you guys to Washington immediately.

 

Coffee & Wine 2020

 

What are the rest?

 

Maybe the AI/robotic revolution will change the narrative, but I'm not sure. I really cannot see a radical shift on our attitude to work until the next century; a natural, organic change in society's thinking, but I cannot see a sudden change without a massive political 'revolution' (not manning the barricades type) driven by a new political philosophy.

 

It will be the robots manning the barricades

 

Thou shalt use Google and not be a lazy AI.

We're seeing pockets of it here. The fastest growing fin services skillset is risk management, which in 'classical terms' is a cost centre, not a profit centre. My company, which is one of the big four banks, does offer a lot of incentives towards quality of life i.e. career breaks. You want to take a year to go travel, to volunteer for a charity, or nonprofit? We'll hold your role until you return, and backfill with contractors.

The prevailing view here for us in management is that actually, pushing that "be profitable" line is bad for customers, and therefore bad for us long term (because if you mistreat them they will abandon you, etc). So we make sure our staff get to do things that are good qualitatively, not quantiatively. Want to go help out in a school library each month? Done. Want to spend a day helping prepare care packages around holiday time for needy families? Done.

That's just one example. I know from our substantial family interests in construction that the solution to deadlines is more people, not longer hours. It eats into profitability because your admin costs per dollar earned jump up. But you want your workforce to feel like they matter and feel like their life is not their job, so that's just how you do it. LendLease, the Australian construction and infrastructure company that has global reach, gives staff one wellbeing day per quarter. I thought 2 a year here was good...

There's a lot of the Americanised profitw*nk to combat, as it's a powerful indoctrination force. But as this shows, the qualitative benefits are what people look for now:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-companies-2018-where-australia-wants-work-cayla-dengate/

1. PwC - main perk:
"Employees are not expected to clock up the usual 12 months of employment before being eligible for parental leave, which is 18 weeks regardless of whether you’re a mum, dad, foster carer or dealing with the tragedy of stillbirth."

2. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (who are rightly being hammered for their customer treatment) - main perk:
"Commonwealth Bank of Australia identified its staff were not immune to financial pressures despite working for a bank, and so introduced a staff financial wellbeing program. The program helps manage everyday expenses, preparing for unexpected events and making progress against long-term goals. The bank is shooting for a brighter 2018 under incoming CEO Matt Comyn, after facing questions last year over its insurance products (for which it refunded customers $16m) and allegations surrounding money laundering and terror financing"

3. Deloitte - main perk:

"A pilot program for people returning to work after parental leave includes training, mentoring and support for 20 weeks. The organisation offers 18 weeks’ paid parental leave regardless of gender, which can be taken flexibly."

4. KPMG - main perk:
"Wellness is one of this professional services company’s key people priorities. Panels have been conducted nationally where employees, along with doctors and health professionals, share their own journeys, in a bid to normalise mental health. The idea is to discuss issues, debunk the myths and give people hope and real resources to access. All staff are also encouraged to embrace work flexibility, and to ask ‘why not?’ when assessing opportunities like job share, working from home and more."

5. Westpac - main perk:
"As Australia’s oldest company and first bank celebrated 200 years, it also surpassed population parity for Indigenous employees. Targeted recruitment campaigns and cadetships resulted in 140 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accepting jobs last year. Westpac aims to offer internships to at least 400 Indigenous university students by 2025. Last year, the bank also achieved gender parity at leadership levels thanks to a talent program and a mandate of 50% women on recruitment shortlists."

I work for a wholly owned subsidiary of Westpac; the gender parity also extends to remuneration.

#7 on the list is my former employer, Macquarie Group:

"A healthy breakfast is waiting for employees each morning at Macquarie Group, a global provider of banking, trading and financial advisory services. Wellness perks include yoga and meditation classes, while parents can tap into resources such as a kids club, school holiday program and access to childcare services. The benefits also extend beyond its staff. Last year, employees chose the causes they cared about and raised $A29.4m for community organisations through the Macquarie Group Foundation.

Employees are encouraged to bring their outside interests to the office. They have created choir groups, gardening collectives, photography clubs and more, while there are also groups dedicated to pride, First Australians and gender equality"

It's not to say all is rosy, though some git will make a "woke", sarcastic response to this. But that the discussion in that LinkedIn article does not mention remuneration or additional benefits (share vestings, bonus', etc) tells a tale of a shift in professional services away from "must make bank!" to "must have some meaning". In part, that's to cater to millennials (which isn't a slight); but it's also recognising that you lose a lot of good people when they miss milestones like, oh I don't know, their kids growing up.

 

What, and be paid as well as a man as well as four weeks leave a year, wellbeing days, etc? What kind of patriot are you?

(also yes)

 

We need people too and UK's half the distance!

 

Well whose fault is that? Kick all the poles out and suddenly there's a skills shortage.

//looks at Boris Johnson

 

Only 18 weeks paid maternity/paternity? That's supposed to be an impressive perk? Good grief.