Launching the Australian Workplace Conference Workplace policy 2010 and into the future  31st March 2010, Citigate Central Hotel, Sydney   Ascertain the latest trends. Debate the issues. The topics discussed on the day will include: Positioning your workplace for the medium term; Workforce Futures: Outlook for 2020; Emerging approaches to recruiting, developing + retaining staff; The Economy and Labour Market Outlook for 2010 and Navigating through Workplace Relations in 2010. Announcing Special rate for this conference: $600 Early bird - book before the 28th of February (Normal conference price is $795) Book now    Australian Workplace Conference Speakers Confirmed to date include: Robin Shreeve, CEO, Skills Australia Peter Anderson, Chief Executive, Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nicolas Wilson, Fair Work Australia Ombudsman Mark Polglaze, Executive Director Human Resources, GM Holden Ltd Tim Lyons, Assistant Secretary, ACTU Alisa Hall, Acting Executive Director / Project Manager, QLD Health Skills Formation Strategy Kevin Kennedy, Managing Director (ex officio), Apprenticeships Group Australia John Buchanan, Director, Workplace Research Centre Linda Scott, Senior Research Analyst, Workplace Research Centre    Video from the 2009 Australian Workplace Conference: Click Here to preview John Buchanan's presentation on Social Inclusion     Australia at Work: In a Changing World released 26 November 2009 Download Report  The findings are from The Australia at Work study, which is tracking 8,000 workers over five years and is the largest and most up-to-date study of Australian working life. This third annual report includes data from 2008 and the first half of 2009, a period when the GFC was at its peak. During the global financial crisis workers who stayed in their jobs did not reduce their working hours, despite widespread government and commentator claims that cuts in hours had helped stem job losses during the downturn. The study found that while the lives of people who remained with the same employer stayed relatively unchanged or even improved, those who entered a new job, or who changed employer, felt the impact of the global financial crisis most keenly. The average working week remained at 44 hours per week, exactly the same level as the first two years of our survey. The study found no evidence to support the contention that job losses have been mitigated by de facto work-sharing. The most significant change in work hours was experienced by those who changed jobs. Workers who entered new jobs during the study period were also worse off in other ways, the researchers found. Some 35 per cent of those who changed jobs experienced a cut in pay.  Workers who entered the job market or who changed jobs in the past year were also more likely than other workers to enter into precarious forms of employment, such as casual jobs without entitlements to paid leave. While those who changed jobs were likely to be negatively affected during the GFC, the report found evidence that those who remained in their job either weren’t personally affected by the GFC, or they actually reported improved living conditions. Interviews available phone 02 9351 5626 Download previous reports 2008 and 2007 reports. John Buchanan's ABC’s Lateline intervew on the latest findings from the Australia at Work report

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