16 Sep WORKING FROM HOME: GOOD FOR PRODUCTIVITY; CYBER ATTACKS ON THE UP
Welcome to this week’s business and media intelligence update.
HOW TO RE-OPEN: COUNTRIES THAT ARE LEARNING TO LIVE WITH COVID-19
As Sydney emerges, blinking into the sun, from the depths of its three month winter of COVID-19 discontent, you might be wondering: What does post-pandemic life look like, and how are fully vaccinated countries dealing with the delicate policy balance that is re-opening?
Israel was one of the first countries in the world to secure enough supplies of mRNA vaccines for its adult population, and the outperformer has learnt to accept that while case numbers might continue to rise, it’s the death, hospitalisation, and transmission rates that matter going forward. In fact, it’s even started offering its citizens booster shots.
Over in Denmark, the COVID-19 pandemic is officially over, with the Danish government lifting all measures after 548 days of pandemic related restrictions. The Scandinavian country has vaccinated 80 per cent of its adult population, and masks are no longer compulsory on public transport.
Closer to home, Singapore has vaccinated a whopping 90 percent of its adult population, yet still mandates mask-wearing in public. The densely populated nation state has accepted that COVID-19 is now endemic, but is taking it one step at a time, slowly re-opening, lifting restrictions, and “feeling its way across the river by feeling the stones”.
A preview perhaps, of the new normal Australians can expect once we get closer to that magical 80 per cent full vaccination number.
WORKING FROM HOME: GOOD FOR PRODUCTIVITY
Australian employers should stop worrying about staff wanting to continue to work from home post lockdowns, according to Michael Brennan, Chair of the Productivity Commission.
A new report by the Commission has found that working remotely has the potential to increase the nation’s productivity.
According to the report, published this week, the number of Australians working from home jumped from eight per cent to 40 per cent over the past two years.
The report also found that the flexibility and cost saving advantages of working from home may result in some employees willing to take a pay cut to negotiate life in home offices.
Read the full report here.
CYBER ATTACKS ON THE UP
A new report by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has confirmed what many organisations have suspected for some time: Australian businesses are under increasing attacks from cyber criminals.
The report found that ransomware attacks increased by 13 per cent in the 2020-21 financial year with the ACSC receiving over 67,500 reports of cybercrimes – or one report every eight minutes. An estimated quarter of the crimes targeted critical infrastructure organisations, including essential services such as education, health, communications, utilities and transport.
Businesses and individuals have incurred more than $33 billion in total losses from cybercrime throughout the year.
And with more people working remotely online, hackers have switched their focus, with more Australian businesses targeted with fake invoice scams.
Read the full report here.
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