13 minute read
pursuit of happiness
READ IT ONLINE
Would you quit your job for the sake of your happiness? A global survey has found younger generations are at the forefront of a movement to seek job satisfaction and stand up for their personal beliefs at work.
Advertisement
Words: Emily Riches
THE COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot about how, when and where we work – but it has also changed why.
Global recruiting firm Randstad’s Workmonitor is one of the longestrunning and largest studies of its kind, surveying 35,000 workers across 34 markets globally. The biannual survey recently found that for younger generations such as Gen Z (18- to 24-year-olds) and Millennials (25- to 34-year-olds), attitudes have shifted to place happiness and personal values at the forefront of working life.
Fifty-six per cent of the younger generations said they’d quit their job if it was preventing them from enjoying life, while 40 per cent said they would rather be unemployed than unhappy in a job. Attitudes like these have led to the ‘Great Resignation’ around the world, and with 70 per cent of Australians now either actively or passively job seeking, there is a revolution in the employee-employer dynamic.
As Nick Pesch, CEO of Randstad ANZ, says, “There’s a clear power shift underway in offices around the globe, including Australia, driven by a workforce still recovering from the pandemic. Many workers are rethinking priorities and choosing to prioritise personal fulfillment, no longer afraid to move on from roles that don’t align with their values.”
PURPOSE OVER PAYCHECK
The isolation and restrictions imposed over the past two years have hit young people particularly hard. In March 2022, the World Health Organization reported that anxiety and depression increased 25 per cent worldwide during the first year of the pandemic; teens in particular are among those experiencing a mental health crisis. With greater awareness of the importance of mental health, younger generations are placing more focus on the search for happiness, purpose and work-life balance in their choice of work.
These younger generations are also tapped into social justice and environmental issues, and they expect their employer to be as well. Nearly half of Millennials (48 per cent) and Gen Z (49 per cent) said they wouldn’t accept a job that didn’t align with
NICK PESCH, CEO OF RANDSTAD ANZ
their values on social justice and environmental issues, compared to just over a third (35 per cent) of 55- to 67-year-olds. The figures were similar regarding the efforts of an employer to promote a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Two in five of the younger generations surveyed wouldn’t even mind earning less money if they felt their job was contributing something to the world or society, revealing a pervasive attitude of ‘purpose over paycheck’.
Nick adds, “Young people want to bring their whole selves to work, which is reflected in their determination not to compromise their personal values when choosing an employer. Our research and experience working with candidates in Australia points to an increasing expectation that organisations will take a stand on social and environmental issues. Companies that are shown to be taking positive action will find themselves more attractive and better able to retain loyal talent.”
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR BUSINESSES?
With talent scarcity a long-term challenge and competition for skills intensifying, how can companies stand out from competitors and become attractive for younger generations, and employees in general?
Sander van ’t Noordende, CEO and Chair of the Executive Board of Randstad NV, says, “We believe focusing on these five areas is essential: fitting work around people’s lives, aligning values, strengthening attraction strategies, offering job flexibility, and accelerating professional development.”
Nearly three-quarters of people believe flexibility of work location is important, and an even higher per cent want work hours that complement their lifestyle. Globally, 58 per cent of people say they wouldn’t accept a job if they thought it would negatively affect their worklife balance. So job flexibility is here to stay: whether this is around remote or hybrid schedules, work hours or work arrangements.
Corporate social responsibility is also important, with businesses taking a stance on social justice and environmental issues and encouraging diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Opportunities for professional development and upskilling are also critical, as well as offering incentives such as more time off, healthcare benefits or retirement plans.
The pandemic caused millions of workers around the world to work in new and different ways, and people are emerging from the global crisis with a clear mission: prioritising happiness and purpose. They are ready to let their employers know it. Now that markets are reopening, restrictions are being lifted and employees are returning to the workplace, companies need to actively listen and respond to what people are asking for – and in some cases change the way they operate for good.
Keeping Things Moving
Agriculture | mining | construction
Advanced technology – Unlimited Applications
THIS PAGE: CHANEL CONTOS IS CHANGING THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION AROUND CONSENT - AND THE GOVERNMENT IS LISTENING.
READ IT ONLINE
CONSENT MATTERS
In a historic decision, the Australian government has announced that consent education will be mandatory in schools from 2023 – and it’s all thanks to former student Chanel Contos.
WORDS: MATILDA MEIKLE
AGE-APPROPRIATE consent education is to become compulsory in Australian schools from year K-10 after state and federal ministers unanimously agreed to add it to the curriculum. Younger years will learn the basics around permission and respect, while older years will engage with ideas surrounding consent, coercion, gender stereotypes and more. This plan is likely to come into effect in 2023, and is intended to change the way consent is taught in Australian society.
As things stand, one in five women in Australia has experienced some form of sexual violence, with one in four of these women being under 18. Evidence suggests that better preventative education could reduce this number and help to make Australia a safer place for the next generation.
The decision has important repercussions in moving towards a better understanding of consent, and comes as the result of a petition started by then-student Chanel Contos, which has collected more than 45,000 signatures since its launch in 2021.
CHANEL’S STORY
The announcement regarding consent education is news for most of us, but for Chanel it all began early last year.
“Some friends and I started talking about sexual assault properly for the first time. And we began to realise that many of us have been sexually assaulted, we just hadn’t realised that what happened to us counted. I was so furious,” she says.
According to Chanel, this active rage influenced her to post an Instagram story asking her followers if they, or anyone they knew, had been victims of sexual assault. Within 24 hours, more than 200 people had replied “yes”.
This intense response inspired Chanel to start her petition for better consent education in schools as well as to introduce her ‘Teach Us Consent’ initiative, which aims to put an end to rape culture by sharing survivor stories and bringing conversations around consent to the forefront of the national stage.
“Through Teach Us Consent, lots of people have shared their testimony for the first time. It’s really amazing to provide a safe space in that way,” she says.
Since then, Chanel has been a strong advocate for change, meeting with powerful Australian politicians and celebrities to discuss the next steps for our nation. She has also worked in partnership with police to re-introduce Operation Vest, an anonymous reporting system for survivors of sexual assault, which allows them to report their experience without launching a criminal investigation. It gives them options beyond court proceedings, and creates a network of support for victims. Since its launch, Operation Vest has seen a 61 per cent month-onmonth increase in reporting.
“We’re trying to provide more options for victims,” Chanel explains. “Operation Vest allows us to expose underreporting and show how it’s a problem.”
IMPACTING AUSTRALIA
Chanel may be at the forefront of this fight for change, but she’s not the only one concerned with educating Australia’s youth. According to a 2020 study by US researchers, young people in years K-12 need to be taught about consent before the onset of risky behaviours such as sexual violence. The report suggests that educating young people on how to interact and start healthy conversations can ensure that our society is a safer place for everyone.
This need for educational change has only become more apparent after a 2021 survey conducted by the Social Research Centre, which revealed the scale and nature of sexual assault experiences for young people in 39 universities across Australia. The National Student Safety Survey highlighted the prevalence of negative sexual behaviour, revealing how one in six students has been sexually assaulted since beginning their degree.
Clearly, mandated consent education is necessary, and this policy goes beyond party politics, uniting politicians on both sides as they strive to educate and protect this country’s future generations. After the announcement Shadow Education Minister Tanya Plibersek took to Twitter to show support for Chanel’s initiative, posting: “understanding consent empowers and protects young people.”
In fact, on March 6, the Australian government announced a national survey exploring the role of consent
THIS PAGE: A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE, CHANEL HAS SPEARHEADED INITIATIVES SUCH AS TEACH US CONSENT AND OPERATION VEST.
education in secondary schools. It aims to gauge exactly where young people are lacking proper education, and highlight where the Australian curriculum needs to be revised. The results will be shared with the government and the public, including young people. The project will be run by the Australian Human Rights Commission, and Chanel has been named a Special Advisor to ensure the survey’s significant goals are achieved.
WHERE TO NEXT?
On March 29, the government revealed that $2.1 billion will be dedicated to measures supporting women, including financial assistance for women escaping violence, and better paid childcare leave. Along with the agreement to mandate consent education, Chanel is hoping that this is the start of bigger change in Australia.
“I think we’re in the midst of a moment here in Australia. People have been saying these things forever, but it’s suddenly being listened to. I’m hoping that, over time, gender equality becomes more and more of a priority,” she says.
In order to keep moving forward, Chanel suggests we must continue to focus on education.
“Australia has an amazing education system that we should be using as much as possible. Education is one of the most transformative things in society, but it needs to exist outside of just the school system. It needs to come from all angles of society: schools, parents, sporting teams, even the media.”
Better education beyond the classroom means that people of all ages can begin to gain a better understanding of consent – and each other. By focusing on educating society as a whole, Australians could be looking at a nationwide shift in the way we think about consent and respect. For more about Chanel and the Teach Us Consent movement, see teachusconsent.com. If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT for support, or go to 1800respect.org.au.
CATCHING THE BEAT
The FarmBeats program may be in its early stages, but this new STEM initiative is already having a real-world impact.
Words: Matilda Meikle
READ IT ONLINE
THIS PAGE: MICROSOFT AND CSIRO HAVE JOINED FORCES TO CREATE A PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.
WITH THE global population expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050, agriculture is becoming an increasingly important industry, one which must respond to an ever-growing resource demand.
Hoping to find creative solutions for this international issue, Microsoft and CSIRO have joined together to introduce Australia’s first Microsoft FarmBeats for Students Initiative. The pilot program brought together 397 students in years 9 and 10 across 18 different schools, allowing them to experience hands-on AI learning. The aim was to find solutions for increased food production through smart farming techniques, as well as teaching students first-hand the need to ensure sustainable and long-lasting production practices.
THE INITIATIVE
FarmBeats hopes to explore the possibility of technological advancement in the agricultural sector, leading to greater sustainable harvest. The initial pilot program was run in schools across Australia, providing teachers with lesson plans aligned with the Australian curriculum, as well as tools and technology to undertake a variety of scientific experiments with their students. These teachers were also given specialised development training to help them master the through an easy-to-use interface. Through this system, students could compare average rainfall in their area over the last ten years, and apply it to the rainfall needs of the plants they might grow for their investigation.
technology being utilised in the program.
In order to complete these experiments, all participating schools were allocated a Microsoft FarmBeats Kit, which included sensors for soil moisture, light, temperature and humidity, to be used when conducting their investigations and calculating projections.
Once set up, students were asked to examine the environment of their local area, and consider how to adapt growing practices in order to increase yield. To help with this significant task, they were given access to the CSIRO-developed INDRA program, designed to collate big data collections and provide an overview of the major challenges facing different geographical regions. It presents information about rainfall, temperature, heat, and frost risk to farmers
THE RESULTS
This pilot program has resulted in important learning outcomes for the students, including an increased STEM education, as well as improved digital literacy, which will help them as they transition into higher education and the workforce. They have also been equipped with skills to understand how data and AI can reshape the world.
FarmBeats allows both students and teachers to comprehend ways to ensure future well-being for all, placing themselves outside the classroom and into real-world situations.
However, it also has implications in the agricultural sector. By examining climate and hazard risks in their local area, students considered how these factors may affect current and future agricultural conditions.
Their suggestions for improved farming practices are useful when attempting to introduce sustainable solutions for an increased resource demand. And, by continuing to apply this program in other schools, CSIRO and Microsoft can collect even more data on the way our future generations are approaching our current global concerns.
This investigation into technological solutions can be applied to the agricultural challenges facing our country today, leading to a better and brighter future.
