17 May SWEET POTATO! URUGUAY!; THE AUSSIE CYBER CRISIS
SWEET POTATO! URUGUAY!
It’s budget week!
And headlines like “Winners and Losers”, “Tax Break Calculators”, and “How the Budget Affects You”, are just some of the innovative ways that news outlets have found to break down a complex policy document that affects so many of our lives – but very few people actually read.
This year, the AFR has found an innovative way to cover the Federal Budget. Instead of focusing exclusively on the big-ticket items like the energy rebate and the Stage 3 tax cuts, they’ve assigned a reporter to cover the smaller budget items that often get lost in the wash.
For example, did you know that the federal government will be handing out a tax break for potatoes? That’s right: sweet potato’s 1.5% levy has been pealed down to 0.5 per cent.
Australia will also be giving more than $23 million over four years to Uruguay to help share the costs of providing retirement income support to individuals working between the two countries.
THE AUSSIE CYBER CRISIS
Australia faces a pressing shortage of cybersecurity professionals leaving the country and its businesses vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated and frequent threats.
According to government-funded industry body AustCyber’s Cyber Security Sector Competitiveness Plan, 74 per cent of security professionals reported a significant lack of qualified workers. The workforce needs to grow by 66 per cent to reach the 85,000 required by 2030, or just over 4,800 jobs per year.
With the recent Federal Budget being criticised for being “light on cyber security”, AustCyber emphasises the continued need for private sector investment, support for start-ups, and enhanced government regulations in cybersecurity for Australia to meet global standards.
OFFICE ZOMBIES
Many employees are disengaged and unmotivated in the workplace, some resembling zombies in the halls of their office, according to a new report by The Harvard Business Review (HBR).
HBR asked its readers and executive education program participants what happens when they feel dead at work. Over 90 respondents said they feel powerless, struggle to perform, have an intense imposter system, and repress their authentic selves at work. This can also lead to cynicism, social withdrawal, and learned helplessness.
With most advice aimed at managers, what steps can employees take to maintain or recover their motivation?
HBR developed a four-step process involving getting distance and perspective, acting empathetically, channelling your energy productively and reframing your thoughts about work. These steps may help to improve mental health, boost job performance, and increase the chances that something good will happen in workers’ professional future.
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