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.
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%).
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%).
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.
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%).
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 »
COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
Essential Report
In this week's report:
- Performance of Scott Morrison
- Performance of Anthony Albanese
- Preferred Prime Minister
- Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government
- Party trust to handle issues
- Importance of Australia’s international reputation
- Scott Morrison’s impact on Australia’s international reputation
- Views towards Australia’s international reputation
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