CHANGES NEEDED FOR SMALL BUSINESS

From Peter Strong, CEO of the Council of Small Business of Australia. Over 96% of businesses are small. Over 60% of workplaces employ less than 5 people. Over 7 million people earn a living from small businesses. Yet the workplace relations systems have been designed for the 4% of businesses who have pay clerks and experts. If we want improvements in productivity and innovation we must change the way we approach workplace relations. All sides of politics need to agree on a simple system for the small workplace. We need a system that isn't based on philosophy and vested interests - we need a system that is based on reality and people. WorkChoices and FairWork Australia are and were systems based on outmoded beliefs about the way the workplace should operate and behave. One system was designed by big business to suit their belief in what a workplace should look like and the other system is designed by the union movement with the support of big business, to reflect their needs. In the end these systems, their development and implementation (and their eventual dismantling and reconstruction into another system) has failed everyone except the vested interests. We should accept the reality of our working world and have two systems: one for big business and its experts and one for small business. We firstly need a small business award that is easy to understand and can provide certainty to all people in the small workplace.

Workplace flexibility

With the introduction of the Fair Work Act and amendments to Equal Opportunity Legislation, every employer needs to be prepared for requests for flexibility from eligible staff.

A practical and realistic guide has been developed to assist employers in implementing this strategy into your workplace.

This guide is unique in that it covers issues at the enterprise level such as policies and procedures right down to the individual request and specific role arrangements. All content has been legally verified and the content can be simply adapted to your business needs.

This guide will save your organisation many hours of internal policy development and procedural wrangling. Simply adapt the templates in this guide to suit your company's situation.

Available in hard or soft copy, this guide is suitable for companies of all sizes and industries and is completely customisable to accommodate your brand and internal processes.

For more information contact Teresa on 0407092966 or email info@laconcierge.com.au for a quote - price dependable on employee numbers.

Regional Development Victoria -

Where Will the Jobs Be?

Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants Industry
Employment prospects in the accommodation, cafes and restaurants industry are average.
The recent economic downturn has negatively affected the industry. The industry’s services are more related to leisure and entertainment than basic necessities, therefore demand responds quickly to the changing economic conditions. Demand for the industry’s services is expected to decrease in 2009 and 2010.
The longer term outlook is positive for the industry. Growth in the industry is expected to recover from 2010, and employment is forecast to increase by over 8 per cent by 2015. Chefs, waiters, fast food cooks, restaurant and catering managers and elementary service workers are expected to be the fastest growing occupations in the industry in the next five years.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Industry
Employment prospects in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry are above average.
Despite the current economic downturn, expectations remain positive in the industry for 2009 and 2010 due to stable demand conditions. Demand for the industry’s output is mainly determined by basic needs and therefore likely to be less sensitive to the deteriorating economic conditions.
While employment in the industry may decline slightly due to the downturn, it is expected to increase moderately within the next five years. Livestock farmers, skilled agricultural workers, shearers, farm overseers and finance associate professionals are expected to be the fastest growing occupations in the industry in the next five years.

Building and Construction Industry
Employment prospects in the building and construction industry are average.
Following ten years of strong growth, activity is expected to decrease in the industry in 2009 and 2010 due to the effect of the economic downturn. The industry is expected to recover in the longer term due to underlying strong housing demand, government initiatives and the improvement of the global financial markets.
Employment is expected to increase moderately from 2011. In the next five years, employment of business and administration associate professionals, engineering, distribution and process managers, transport drivers, fabrication engineering and wood tradespersons is expected to increase the most relative to other occupations in the industry.

Electricity, Gas and Water Industry
Employment prospects in the electricity, gas and water industry are above average.
The outlook for the industry is positive for 2009 and 2010 due to stable demand conditions. The industry provides essential services and utilities for businesses and communities, therefore activity and employment is not expected to be significantly affected by the effects of the economic downturn.
Employment in the industry is expected to increase by around 5.5 per cent during 2009 and 2010. In the next five years, employment of engineering, distribution and process managers, engineering tradespersons, computer professionals and business associates is expected to increase the most relative to other occupations in the industry.

Government Administration and Defence Industry
Employment prospects in the government administration and defence industry are above average.
The government administration and defence industry currently provides 2.5 per cent of the Victorian economy’s output.
The employment outlook is positive in the sector, as employment is largely determined by Government policies rather than external market factors. The economic downturn has not significantly influenced the industry.
Employment in the Victorian government administration and defence industry has increased by around 25 per cent during the past ten years. The number of people employed in the industry is expected to increase steadily from 2009 by around 13 per cent over the next five years. Urban and regional planners, and business and information professionals are expected to be the fastest growing occupations in the industry in the next five years.

Health and Community Services Industry
Employment prospects in the health and community services industry are above average.
It is expected that activity will increase in the industry during 2009 and 2010 and it is not likely to be further significantly affected by the economic downturn. The longer term outlook is also positive for the industry. Demographic changes predict increasing demand for health and community services. It is expected that because of the aging population and the recent spike in births, demand for maternal health, childcare and aged care services will continue to rise.
Employment in the industry is expected to continue rising from 2009 onwards, by over 5.4 per cent in the next five years. Employment growth in the community services sector is expected to be higher than in the health sector. Personal care and nursing assistants, nurse managers, childcare workers and welfare and community workers are expected to be the fastest growing occupations in the industry in the next five years.

Transport and Storage Industry
Employment prospects in the transport and storage industry are above average.
Following a period of substantial growth, the industry has experienced some decline during the past quarters. The transport and storage industry provides services to every other sector in the economy, and the effects of the economic downturn have impacted on the industry. However, the longer term outlook is very solid for the industry.
Employment in the industry has gradually increased from 94,500 to around 113,000 during the past ten years. Employment is expected to continue to rise in the next five years at an annual average rate of 1 per cent. In the next five years employment in the road transport sector is expected to increase the most, followed by rail transport. In this time, employment of transport managers, supply and distribution managers, transport and despatching clerks, and truck, delivery, bus and tram drivers is expected to increase the most relative to other occupations in the industry.

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