Power in the Union? An Examination of Women-only Unions in Japan and South Korea. This project will analyse the development of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea. Women-only unions have existed and still exist in a number of countries but despite the growing numbers of women in unions, the creation of women-only unions has not been a popular organising strategy for pursuing issues of importance to women workers. This project is innovative as it explores the contemporary (re)emergence of ....Power in the Union? An Examination of Women-only Unions in Japan and South Korea. This project will analyse the development of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea. Women-only unions have existed and still exist in a number of countries but despite the growing numbers of women in unions, the creation of women-only unions has not been a popular organising strategy for pursuing issues of importance to women workers. This project is innovative as it explores the contemporary (re)emergence of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea. Through interviews, this project will explore the Western theoretical concepts of 'same/difference' and examine their applicability to an analysis of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea.Read moreRead less
The production of pay (in)equity for women: a study of emerging occupations. The aims of this project are to extend understanding of current impediments to pay equity for women, and to elaborate the ways in which pay inequality is re-created in new contexts. The focus is on emerging occupations likely to provide increasing employment opportunities in the near future. This is highly significant research at a time of structural change and when new procedures for addressing pay equity are being dev ....The production of pay (in)equity for women: a study of emerging occupations. The aims of this project are to extend understanding of current impediments to pay equity for women, and to elaborate the ways in which pay inequality is re-created in new contexts. The focus is on emerging occupations likely to provide increasing employment opportunities in the near future. This is highly significant research at a time of structural change and when new procedures for addressing pay equity are being developed in several States following pay equity inquiries. Expected outcomes include enhanced comprehension of the reproduction of pay inequality and evidence to assist the advancement of pay equity through identified mechanisms and strategies.Read moreRead less
Industrial relations, gender equity and work/family balance: assessing the impact of changing law and practice in Queensland. The project has potential to contribute to improvements in the economic and social well-being of Australian families and communities by identifying effective strategies to enhance gender equity in employment and work/family balance. It seeks to extend understanding of how these outcomes vary across regions and sectors of the Queensland economy in the context of a changing ....Industrial relations, gender equity and work/family balance: assessing the impact of changing law and practice in Queensland. The project has potential to contribute to improvements in the economic and social well-being of Australian families and communities by identifying effective strategies to enhance gender equity in employment and work/family balance. It seeks to extend understanding of how these outcomes vary across regions and sectors of the Queensland economy in the context of a changing industrial relations framework, and to provide an evidence-base to inform the best ways to secure high quality employment and labour force attachment over the life course.Read moreRead less
Parental leave: access, utilisation and efficacy in Australia. This project addresses significant gaps in knowledge about the use of parental leave and the work/family preferences of men and women in Australia. It aims to advance current theoretical debates on how preferences are shaped in workplaces and households, and provide detailed data to inform policy processes. These are highly significant goals as Australian governments prioritise work/family issues in the context of changing household ....Parental leave: access, utilisation and efficacy in Australia. This project addresses significant gaps in knowledge about the use of parental leave and the work/family preferences of men and women in Australia. It aims to advance current theoretical debates on how preferences are shaped in workplaces and households, and provide detailed data to inform policy processes. These are highly significant goals as Australian governments prioritise work/family issues in the context of changing household structures, falling fertility rates, ageing populations and working time pressures. Expected outcomes include benchmarks for policy evaluation, improved understanding of preferences and enhanced policy frameworks to facilitate a gender egalitarian work/family balance.Read moreRead less
Beyond our Control? The Impact of Multinational Corporations on Industrial Relations in Australia. There are two key national benefits associated with this project, related to building and transforming Australian industries and promoting an innovative culture and economy. It will build a better understanding of an issue which has significant consequences for the competitiveness of Australian enterprises and the well-being of employees. By focusing on the role of MNCs in shaping future employment ....Beyond our Control? The Impact of Multinational Corporations on Industrial Relations in Australia. There are two key national benefits associated with this project, related to building and transforming Australian industries and promoting an innovative culture and economy. It will build a better understanding of an issue which has significant consequences for the competitiveness of Australian enterprises and the well-being of employees. By focusing on the role of MNCs in shaping future employment relations in Australia, the project will provide insights into the economic and social consequences of globalisation. By examining MNCs from the US, Germany and Japan, the project highlights the role of Australia's key trading partners and their influence on Australian industry and employment relations. Read moreRead less
Social citizenship and employment for secondary school students. The study will guide communities, policy makers and social institutions about how best to encourage the development of social and workplace citizenship behaviour in young people at a time of multiple, intersecting and possibly contradictory social, policy and legislative changes. It will identify the structural mechanisms (via curriculum development, industry policies/practice and public policy development) through which young stu ....Social citizenship and employment for secondary school students. The study will guide communities, policy makers and social institutions about how best to encourage the development of social and workplace citizenship behaviour in young people at a time of multiple, intersecting and possibly contradictory social, policy and legislative changes. It will identify the structural mechanisms (via curriculum development, industry policies/practice and public policy development) through which young student-workers may become less vulnerable and more empowered in their labour market experiences. Ultimately, this will result in a stronger voice for young people and hence a strengthened social fabric in the domain of workRead moreRead less
How Can High-Performance Human Resource Management Improve Workforce Retention in Hospitals? Workforce shortages in hospitals are a major problem in Australia and internationally. Shortages may lead to a reduced provision of health services, lengthy waiting lists for treatment, excessive workloads for staff and increased likelihood of adverse outcomes. Despite a growth in labour supply, workforce shortages reflect, in part, an inability of hospitals to retain trained staff. Benefits to the com ....How Can High-Performance Human Resource Management Improve Workforce Retention in Hospitals? Workforce shortages in hospitals are a major problem in Australia and internationally. Shortages may lead to a reduced provision of health services, lengthy waiting lists for treatment, excessive workloads for staff and increased likelihood of adverse outcomes. Despite a growth in labour supply, workforce shortages reflect, in part, an inability of hospitals to retain trained staff. Benefits to the community of increasing workforce retention include: improved continuity and quality of care; increased throughput of patients; lower workforce recruitment costs; less staff burnout; and lower costs for training and educating new staff. Read moreRead less
The Role of Employment Relations in the Competitive Strategies of Low Cost Airlines in Australia. Employment-relations issues are key determinants of an airline's performance. Air transport is important for Australia. Australia has experienced failing airlines (e.g. Ansett, Compass); its most successful airline, Qantas, charges high fares and one of its priorities is improving its employment relations. This project will investigate airlines' critical success factors with special attention to the ....The Role of Employment Relations in the Competitive Strategies of Low Cost Airlines in Australia. Employment-relations issues are key determinants of an airline's performance. Air transport is important for Australia. Australia has experienced failing airlines (e.g. Ansett, Compass); its most successful airline, Qantas, charges high fares and one of its priorities is improving its employment relations. This project will investigate airlines' critical success factors with special attention to the links between corporate strategies and employment relations. Besides investigating Qantas, it will link with MIT's Global Airline Industry Program to consider the transformation of Australia's aviation industry and, in particular, the innovations pioneered by low-cost airlines: JetStar and Virgin Blue.Read moreRead less
The Rise and Retention of the 'Authoritarian Taylorism' Perspective as Orthodoxy in the Employment Relations Field. In the late 1980s revisionist historians of the employment relationship began questioning the belief that Taylorism is an authoritarian, anti-union school of management. These scholars argued that the managers and theorists who predominated within the U.S. interwar Taylorist movement were unique in the management community in the extent to which they promoted industrial democracy, ....The Rise and Retention of the 'Authoritarian Taylorism' Perspective as Orthodoxy in the Employment Relations Field. In the late 1980s revisionist historians of the employment relationship began questioning the belief that Taylorism is an authoritarian, anti-union school of management. These scholars argued that the managers and theorists who predominated within the U.S. interwar Taylorist movement were unique in the management community in the extent to which they promoted industrial democracy, mutual gains, and gender equality. In the light of this knowledge, this project explores how it could be that the authoritarian Taylorist perspective became accepted by all schools within the employment relations field and what the notion of progressive Taylorism offers employment relations analysis and reform.Read moreRead less
The End of Conflict? Industrial Conflict and Dispute Resolution in Australia since the Breakdown of the Arbitral Model. Scholarly interest in industrial conflict has receded with the decline in strike levels. However, new forms of conflict (eg lockouts, union de-recognition disputes, internationalised disputes) and dispute resolution (eg private mediation) have emerged since the introduction of enterprise bargaining and the end of the classical 'arbitral model'. The highly structured, predicta ....The End of Conflict? Industrial Conflict and Dispute Resolution in Australia since the Breakdown of the Arbitral Model. Scholarly interest in industrial conflict has receded with the decline in strike levels. However, new forms of conflict (eg lockouts, union de-recognition disputes, internationalised disputes) and dispute resolution (eg private mediation) have emerged since the introduction of enterprise bargaining and the end of the classical 'arbitral model'. The highly structured, predictable twentieth century Australian model of conflict and dispute resolution is in flux and transition. The aim of this project is to map and explain the changing patterns of conflict and dispute resolution, in particular examining the impact of changes to the policy and institutional framework.Read moreRead less