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With the Australia Day long weekend behind us, for many Australians today is the first day back at work after a long summer break – or at least the day when our thoughts turn in earnest to the working year ahead.
But some will be returning to unreasonable workloads and unsupportive bosses – workplaces that Tim Bednall and Kathryn Page describe as “toxic”. Some employees will be weighing up whether to stick around or quit.
“Remember while changing jobs is a big step, staying in a toxic workplace can have serious long-term consequences for both mental and physical health,’’ they write.
Bednall and Page say unhappy employees who want to move should seek counselling through their workplace’s employment assistance program or from an independent career counsellor. Whatever they decide, their mental and physical health should be their priority.
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Margaret Easterbrook
Business Editor
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Timothy Colin Bednall, Swinburne University of Technology; Kathryn Page, Swinburne University of Technology
The start of the new year could be the best time to decide if your employer is doing enough to create a healthy and positive work environment.
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Marian Sawer, Australian National University
Australia was a trailblazer from the inception of International Women’s Year. But despite the gains, there are still forces pushing back against women’s empowerment.
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Rachel Leslie, University of Southern Queensland; Annette Brömdal, University of Southern Queensland; Cris Townley, Western Sydney University; Glenys Oberg, The University of Queensland
If your child is spending lots of time in sick bay or has extreme difficulty getting ready for school, they could be signs of school refusal.
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Ben White, Queensland University of Technology; Lindy Willmott, Queensland University of Technology; Rachel Feeney, Queensland University of Technology
Only 33% of participants in a Queensland study knew voluntary assisted dying was legal.
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Rajkishore Nayak, RMIT University Vietnam; Donna Cleveland, RMIT University Vietnam
Give a bacteria-fungi biofilm access to sweetened tea and you can make not only kombucha – but a fibre vital to making clothing.
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Ming Gao, Australian Catholic University
Red envelopes are a cherished cultural tradition in China and many other parts of Asia. Here’s where they come from – and their possible digital future.
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Yasmine Probst, University of Wollongong; Karen Zoszak, University of Wollongong
Each year, a striking difference occurs in Australia when Shepard avocados briefly replace Hass at the shops. Here’s why.
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Politics + Society
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Adrian Beaumont, The University of Melbourne
According to the latest polls, if an election were held now, Labor would probably lose.
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Health + Medicine
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Peter Breadon, Grattan Institute; Wendy Hu, Grattan Institute
Some communities have too few GPs to ensure everyone can get the care they need, when they need it. Whoever wins the federal election should commit to fixing this.
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Science + Technology
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Adam Andreotta, Curtin University
Research shows using images in privacy policies makes them shorter and more understandable.
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Toby Murray, The University of Melbourne
The well-respected Cyber Safety Review Board investigated some of the worst cyber security attacks in US history. Now, it faces an uncertain future.
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Environment + Energy
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Nick Rowley, Australian National University
Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is humanity’s only hope of achieving climate security. It’s time to think deeply about our chances of getting there.
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Rebekkah Markey-Towler, The University of Melbourne
With the US out of the tent, the rest of the world can get on with climate action without Trump’s corrosive influence.
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Education
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Steven Lewis, Australian Catholic University
While study is going to play a large role this year, work out a schedule that allows for rest and the things you enjoy.
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Emma Rowe, Deakin University
As Australian families prepare for term 1, many will receive letters from their public schools asking them to pay fees.
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Arts + Culture
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Sam Whiting, RMIT University
Only five of the Hottest 100 winners have been bands in the past 15 years, compared to 13 in the 15 years prior.
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Wendy Hargreaves, University of Southern Queensland
Australians acted passionately when debating one word in verse one, yet verse two barely raises an eyebrow. It’s the controversy we need to have
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Books + Ideas
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Jan Lanicek, UNSW Sydney; Avril Alba, University of Sydney
The liberation of Auschwitz is being commemorated in the shadow of rising antisemitism in Australia and globally.
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Business + Economy
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Julia Richardson, Curtin University
The message is clear: the push to get workers back into the office is being incorporated into US government policy. Here’s what could be lost.
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Claudio Bozzi, Deakin University
Donald Trump claims China ‘operates’ the Panama Canal. This isn’t quite right, but China’s investment in shipping infrastructure globally has made many countries jittery.
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