The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Feb, 2021

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    Biggest Covid-19-related risks for employees

    Q. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which of the following risks do you think employees are currently the most vulnerable to?

    Please rank each of the following from biggest risk (1) to smallest risk (6).

    TOTAL: Biggest risk (Ranked 1)  Total Employment Status
    In paid employment Not in paid employment Retired
    Having less job security 36% 34% 40% 35%
    Working in unsafe conditions 20% 18% 24% 19%
    Being exploited by employers (e.g. being expected to work unpaid overtime, working long shifts) 16% 16% 15% 15%
    Not receiving a pay increase 10% 12% 6% 13%
    Not getting paid fairly 10% 11% 8% 7%
    Having limited opportunities for career progression 9% 9% 6% 11%
    Base (n) 1,109 552 259 255
    • Considering the Covid-19 pandemic, having less job security is seen as the biggest risk for employees by over a third (36%) of people.
    • Working in unsafe conditions is seen as the next biggest risk (20%), followed by being exploited by employers (16%).
    • Those not in paid employment are most likely to rate job security (40%) and unsafe conditions (24%) as the biggest risk to employees.
  • Sep, 2013

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    Trust in use of personal information

    Q. How much trust do you have in the following organisations to responsibly use any personal information they may have about you?

     

    Total trust

     

    A lot of trust

    Some trust

    A little trust

    No trust

    Don’t know

    Not applicable to me

    The medical profession

    73%

    35%

    38%

    19%

    4%

    3%

    *

    Law enforcement agencies

    56%

    20%

    36%

    27%

    12%

    4%

    1%

    Your employer

    46%

    19%

    27%

    21%

    7%

    3%

    22%

    Banks

    45%

    13%

    32%

    32%

    19%

    3%

    *

    Companies you buy things from in person

    44%

    7%

    37%

    37%

    14%

    4%

    *

    The Government

    31%

    6%

    25%

    35%

    30%

    3%

    *

    Mobile phone and internet providers

    29%

    4%

    25%

    40%

    27%

    4%

    *

    Companies you buy things from online

    27%

    3%

    24%

    43%

    24%

    4%

    3%

    Insurance companies

    26%

    4%

    22%

    36%

    33%

    3%

    1%

    TV networks

    20%

    3%

    17%

    37%

    36%

    6%

    1%

    Social media sites

    12%

    1%

    11%

    24%

    54%

    4%

    5%

    The most trusted people/organisations to use personal information were the medical profession (73% trust), law enforcement agencies (56%), employers (46%), banks (45%) and companies you buy things from in person (44%). The least trusted were social media sites (12%) and TV networks (20%).

  • Jul, 2012

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    Source of Workplace Bullying

    If been bullied or witnessed bullying –

    Q. Was the bullying coming from –

     

    Total

    Men

    Women

    Aged

    18-34

    Aged

    35-54

    Aged 55+

    Full time workers

    Part time workers

    Managers or employers

    65%

    67%

    64%

    61%

    69%

    69%

    63%

    74%

    Other work colleagues

    48%

    45%

    50%

    51%

    48%

    48%

    43%

    44%

    Customers or clients

    15%

    16%

    14%

    18%

    16%

    5%

    14%

    23%

    Other people

    2%

    2%

    2%

    3%

    2%

    *

    2%

    1%

    68% of those who had been bullied or witnessed bullying in the workplace said the bullying was done by managers or employers and 48% said it was coming from colleagues.

    Part-time workers were more likely to say the bullying was coming from managers/employers (74%).

  • May, 2012

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    Benefit from Casual/Contract Jobs

    Q. The number of people working in casual and contract jobs is increasing. Who do you think benefits most from the increasing number of casual and contract jobs?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    Workers

    7%

    6%

    8%

    3%

    Employers

    55%

    62%

    52%

    72%

    Both equally

    28%

    25%

    32%

    17%

    Don’t know

    10%

    8%

    8%

    8%

    A majority of respondents (55%) think that employers benefit most from the increasing number of casual and contract jobs. Only 7% think workers benefit most and 28% think both groups benefit equally.

    60% of full time workers and 49% of part-time workers think employers benefit most. Those on higher incomes are also more liklely to think employers benefit most (62% of those on incomes over $1,600pw). For those on low incomes (under $600pw),  54% think employers benefit most, 4% workers and 34% think both benefit equally.

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  • Apr, 2012

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    Cost of Superannuation for Employers

    Q. In the next two years employer superannuation payments will increase by 0.25% per year, and then by 0.5% each year up to 2019 when it reaches 12%. Do you agree or disagree that these increases are reasonable and affordable for employers or should employees bear the cost by accepting lower pay rises?

     

    Total

    Vote Labor

    Vote Lib/Nat

    Vote Greens

    This is a reasonable and affordable cost for employers

    58%

    68%

    50%

    62%

    Employees should bear the cost by accepting lower pay rises

    19%

    12%

    26%

    14%

    Don’t know

    23%

    20%

    23%

    24%

    58% think that the yearly superannuation increases are a reasonable and affordable cost for employers and 19% think employees should bear the cost by accepting lower pay rises.

    Those most likely to think the increases are a reasonable and affordable cost for employers were aged 25-44 (67%), full-time workers (66%) and those earning over $1,0000pw (64%).

    Comments »

  • Feb, 2012

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    Industrial Relations Laws

    Q. Business groups have said that Australia’s industrial relations laws favour workers and unions and should be changed so that businesses can increase productivity and have more flexibility with their workforce. Do you think Australia’s industrial relations laws favour employers or workers or do they balance the interests of workers and employers?

    Total Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Full time workers Part time workers
    Favour employers 25% 29% 23% 36% 27% 25%
    Favour workers 24% 15% 39% 12% 26% 20%
    Balance the interests of employers and workers 34% 43% 25% 37% 34% 38%
    Don’t know 17% 13% 13% 16% 13% 17%

    Respondents were evenly divided over whether Australia’s industrial relations laws favour employers or workers – 25% think they favour employers, 24% favour workers and 34% think they balance the interests of both.

    Labor voters are more likely to think they balance workers and employers interests (43%) while Liberal/National voters are more likely to thin they favour workers (39%). Only 15% of Labor voters and 12% of Greens voters think the laws favour workers. Comments »

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