Too much there seems to be the view that higher productivity means working harder or longer. Historically it hasn't. Higher productivity over the long term has meant more income, more leisure time, better working conditions

Terjey, Productivity is defined as 'output per working hour' by professional economists, industrial managers etc & is used for statistical performance comparisons of individual & group situations. It has no relevence in the fashion you describe..

Why am I still posting here?

Workers need more rights?
>

Drunk broker gets $10K compo
(http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16976212-29277,00.html)

A SACKED insurance broker who repeatedly came to work drunk has been awarded $10,000 after claiming discrimination against his attention deficit disorder.

Experts warn the Federal Magistrate's Court decision in favour of Jirra Collings Ware could open the floodgates for employees to claim similar disabilities in termination cases when unfair dismissal protection is removed.

The Federal Government plans to scrap unfair dismissal laws under its controversial industrial relations reform.

News Ltd newspapers report Mr Ware told the court he had a drinking problem and frequently returned late from long lunches involving alcohol.

On one occasion in October 2002, he returned to the office after drinking at the pub and urinated in the wastepaper basket.

He was warned several times by his employer that his drinking habits were unacceptable and given more reprimands before his dismissal in September 2003.

Mr Ware was awarded $10,000 compensation, plus termination payments and other costs.

Workplace lawyer Sue Barns said the removal of unfair dismissal laws would create similar claims

Under the new reforms that workers will be entitled to $4,000 in legal assistance if they have been unlawfully dismissed, which includes dismissal based on discrimination.

Unfair dismissal is a different matter, involving the process of giving reprimands for things like long-lunches. The article appears to say that appropriate dismissal processes were followed.

Swilkie
I hope you are still posting here because you clearly have a lot to offer....

Your experience is important, and we can all learn from it.
It seems more 'connected' to reality than many.

I still think people are missing the big picture. Its like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.
HA !.. your deckchair is prettier than mine.. I want a better one ! duh -all this while the ship is SINKING.

I'll repeat it gain 'BLIND, DUMB, STUPID'

There are legislative answers to many job threatening trends in Australia now, they are where we should be focusing.

As I've repeatedly said. IT'S NOT JUST MANUFACTURING which is being outsourced to Asia !

SALES
CUSTOMER SERVICE
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
CLERICAL/BACK OFFICE tasks.

If fact, ANYTHING which can be accomplished with a telephone, is being outsourced to Asia.

For those (like myself) who have 'tourism' as an option, remember the Video of the Asian tour group in Brisbane, there the leader told them (In Chinese) "Don't goto this or that shop, they are owned by Australians, goto such and such a shop, owned by Asians" ? (I saw this, I'm not being 'xenophobic')

We either find a legislative response to this, or we end up with so many intelligent people unemployed or under-employed, that they will begin to feel 'socially restless' so to speak, trapped, used up, neglected, ANGRY.... frustrated....cheated.. deceived... let down... rebellious.... etc.. and any thinking person knows where 'that' situation could lead .... right ?

The annoying part of all this, is that there will be opportunistic responses which don't have any other outcome or goal than to 'gain power' for some group. Just like the standard catch cry of all oppositions in the Phillipines is 'Corruption' .. until of course they get power.