Will Abbott sell us out?

I understand how difficult it is for any business that is starting out. The failure rates provide the evidence of the difficulties not being overcome. Governments provide all manner of assistance for new businesses as well as established businesses. The obstacles in business are usually provided by external factors - competition with other businesses, conditions of the markets, the general state of the economy and so on. But if all businesses are on an equal footing as far as conditions for their employees are concerned then there must be other reasons other than employee working conditions that are to blame for business failures.

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Two things.

1. SWOT analysis
2. Problem-solving

 

With respect, government assistance is far outweighed by government interference, both in new, and established businesses, been there, done that, cured now. After running my own small business for over 30 years, employing between 80 & 120 people, I will never employ people again. The mentality of gradually throwing more weight on the back of business, those "other" people, needs to do a 180 degree turn. If we continue to kill off small business, we can`t complain if big business takes it`s place. Remember the corner store?

 

The other thing I forgot to add is that if Abbott needs to give Australia a shot in the arm to ensure his credibility after his massive negative campaign on Australia's economy, he will have an ISDS, which will obviously attract a massive increase in investment if required but massive long term negative implications!

 

I have to get some work done shortly (for myself!) but I will say that big business is always looking to destroy competitors and that's a bad thing for all of us. But if we want capitalism then we have to accept that some things are inherent in capitalism. I like small businesses and patronise them above big business when I can. I try to avoid Woollies and Coles for our local Drake/Foodland or IGA and I don't shop at the smaller ones out of sentiment, I do it because they offer me better products (can't get A&W Root Beer at Woollies - now if only Foodland sold Reese's!) and service and the price differential isn't horrendous. That's retail, I know, other businesses are in different games. As a basic principle I would oppose monopolies or duopolies and have no problem with regulating big business to ensure it's not predatory.

 

Why should there be an arbitrator in any instance? Surely if countries want investment and are desperate or willing to forego some trade offs than that can be done without a system to override their highest legal system. This sounds too dodgy for me! Maybe in the future Australia won't have a choice about the demands of big corporations, but for the present moment I don't think we need to sell our souls?

 

When you say "can't get A&W Root Beer at Woollies", I`m afraid I am unable to supply sympathetic sentiment. Because I can`t even get a root. Sorry, didn`t put much thought into that one.

 

You are Diuretic, there are a lot of outside pressures on business, more so today than ever before. I do believe the business and employee relationship is better than it has ever been, with businesses offering more and more flexibility to their employees. However it is human nature to take things for granted, and this happens on both sides of the fence. As humans we all tend to easily remember the bad situations, even though there were plenty of good ones as well. It only takes one bad experience to cancel 100 good ones. I do not know why it is this way, but it seems so. Yes wages in Australia at this current time are placing pressure on business, more than they have before, other costs are spiralling, just like at home where the cost of living is out of control. We have placed ourselves in a vicious cycle that will undoubtedly end in tears.

I think we live in a world of take, take, take. We are constantly being told by media to screw someone to get what YOU want. We have become desensitised to empathy for others. We have taught ourselves this. One of the biggest and most successful programs in television history, Survivor, has made billions out of a show that promotes disloyalty and lies. This year you get to cheat your family !! and we eat it up. I detest the show as it is a symbol of where our civilisation has fallen to.

This is a long way of saying, and believe me I deal with a lot of businesses world wide, that the successful businesses that I have dealt with in recent years are ones that have been able to develop a great working relationship with their employees. The motto by all is give and take. An example. I did some work for a firm last year who employ mainly 25 to 40 year olds. If an employee likes they can take a half day off, but this must not interfere with another employees workload, and must make the time up by weeks end. They also allow for 2 hour lunch breaks, which most employees take. They then have to work through till 6pm, they seem to like this as they miss the peak hour rush. They have a nursery for mothers. The mothers pay the costs involved out of their pay, and the business pays the wage of the head carer. The mothers also get to leave work at 3pm but do not get paid for hours missed. This has allowed the business to get valuable employees back to work sooner and the mothers are happy as their child is within reach. There are numerous other innovative ways in which this business runs.

Keep in mind that not all businesses have the ability to be as flexible as this one. One I have alluded to earlier is one such case. Diuretic from the outside looking in to this such business they seem to of tried everything to facilitate a working relationship as the law dictates. The issue is they require a full time employee with due qualifications. The young lady in question is refusing to give some framework to the situation, making it untenable, and stressful to all. I don't mind as much work has been doled out my way while they fix the issue, at a much higher rate I will add. This is bread and butter work for me, stuff I did many years ago when I was in her position.

Verdict...... no give and take, will end in tears !

 

I forgot to add, and am smiling while I type, this business is not in Australia. It used to be but too many constraints frustrated the owners and they moved overseas. One of the constraints was implementing new working arrangements with its employees. There were too many penalties involved for what the wished to implement. They now successfully work under workplace contracts(agreements).

Go figure ?

 

It's a cruel world!

 

I realise I'm about to make an obvious point but money is not, generally speaking, a long-term motivator of employees. It is a dissatisfier and must be fair (see Herzberg Two-Factor Theory of Motivation). But there are other issues which go to motivation and slippery has mentioned some of them. If employers could work that out with employees it would be a pretty good outcome.

 

The way things are going we need to put a When in front of this thread title

 

With all of the hoo har about costs of living, we are apparently in a much better position in terms of cost of living than we were in the 80's. It's laughable how some just want to run with a popular line because joe blow and his mates say it. We gotta stop whinging and start appreciating.....fair dinkum!

 

Our absolute hatred for Muslims is going to cause the next world war, one from which our society will forever change. I don't think I will see it, but I would bet on the fact my grandson will.

 

Muslims will change our impression, with their love, sweetness, and light. All we need, is to have more exclusively muslim suburbs in every town, that`ll really teach us all to love each other, just like the way muslims love each other, and everybody else.

 

You have proved my point perfectly, thank you. All Muslims are full of hate and are potential terrorists, because some are, just the same as all Catholics are pedofiles, just because some are. The hatred of Islam precedes terrorism by centuries, the Islamic terrorists learnt it from the Zionist terrorists.

 

Oh and as an aside FYI, most Muslims I have met, ARE filled with love, sweetness and light, something I am afraid I cannot say about all non-Muslims I have met.

 

If the boats were full of Catholic families escaping Muslim persecution, we would be sending ships to pick them up, the public would be demanding it.

No I cannot prove it, most people wouldn't be honest enough to admit it, but I have been around long enough to know enough about Aussie mentality and I firmly believe I am right. IMHO

 

They ARE TOO. Check out Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, etc. etc. etc., they sure have the love, sweetness, and light caper sorted.
LMBO

 

All those countries mentioned have been used and/or abused by the US and/or Israel,and then you are talking about the Islamic extremists, not the general population.

 

Yep, whitey can only ever be in the wrong.

 

Now what are you going on about, I never mentioned colour.

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The most childish response I think I have ever recieved

 

No sooking now. Over the past couple of years, I have seen you express nothing a negative angle regarding all white actions, past and present. With you, there is no balance, just the most completely negative, critical, disparaging approach. Your problem, not mine.

 

I just call it as I see it, no my friend, the problem is yours.

 

Not so. I`m comfortable with a balanced perception. Additionally, I appreciate the many good attributes of this country, it`s pioneers, and our allies. No hair shirts here.

 

Assuming they don't support it. Both parties are increasingly controlled by corporate interests. Then, if Labor doesn't support it, will they get substantial media attention to help prevent it? Hard to say, because the media is controlled by corporate interests whose interests may well be served by such a change. Especially Murdoch, who is not running an Australian company hoping not to be swamped by an American one.