From AUKUS to four-day work week, we bring you a collation of key updates for March 2023.
Top law firm to test office versus work-from-home model
One of the leading law firms, Maddocks, will test the effectiveness of working from office versus working from home.
Maddocks CEO David Newman said, “The more people are in, the more people come in. It snowballs. This year we are going to look at attendance data and test some hypotheses; do people feel more engaged if they attend the office more often, and how is their engagement impacted by those around them?“
“For example, are junior lawyers more engaged or more optimistic about their career progression – and have an increased inclination to stay – than those lawyers who might be in a team with a different attendance rate?
“Or maybe say this is working really well, and we are in a neutral position; our remote working has no real impact on our engagement, and we can continue with the current setting. That’s what we want to test.”
Nationwide trial for four-day work week in Australia recommended by landmark inquiry
Australians might soon enjoy another day off from the current five-day work week.
Greens senator Barbara Pocock, called on the government to consider the “ambitious” reforms to boost the quality of life.
“We heard a lot of evidence … of people who are already working a four-day week in workplaces that are trialling a reduction in working hours and getting very positive results,” Senator Pocock said.
“We’re seeing in the evidence improvements in productivity, a lot greater work and family balance, and really good outcomes in the workplace and at home in terms of relationships and putting your life and your job together.”
Major home builders collapse impacting numerous projects
Australia’s major construction company has collapsed after failing to find anyone to save the firm. Reportedly, this collapse has placed around 1700 projects across Victoria and Queensland in jeopardy.
Another huge firm, Lloyd Group, has also been reported to have collapsed, affecting 59 projects and 200 staff members.
The liquidators said that a small subsidiary of Porter Davis, a boutique luxury builder called Englehart Homes in Queensland, which was acquired by the group in late 2021, will not be impacted and continue to operate.
AUKUS needs to pool tech resources -Australian intelligence chief
Earlier in March, Australia announced about AUKUS. The press release highlighted the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. This acquisition is the single biggest investment in our defence capability in the nation’s history. Additionally, it also claimed to create around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years.
Andrew Shearer, the director-general of the Office of National Intelligence, said the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region was starting to “shift away from the United States and its allies, undermining deterrence”.
He also added, “We are seeing our longstanding technological edge start to erode, and in some cases that edge is totally gone.” .
Michelle Simmons, Australia’s top quantum computer scientist, said AUKUS would need to overcome hurdles to collaboration, such as foreign investment and visa restrictions.
Reserve Bank sounds an alarm on phone wallets such as Apple Pay
The Reserve Bank of Australia has expressed concern about the lack of transparency surrounding digital wallets like Apple Pay. They have warned that business owners may not be fully aware of the cost of using these services.
Ellis Connolly, the head of payments policy at the RBA, has highlighted the need for greater transparency to improve efficiency and competition in the payments market. Connolly noted that mobile wallet providers often require card issuers to enter into confidential agreements to enable their customers to make card payments using these wallets. He made these remarks at a business summit in Sydney hosted by the Australian Financial Review.
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