Comments on: Ad Nauseam: Federal Government’s IR ads

By: Helen

Helen — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 20:14:29 +0000

That’s OK Shula, I would be swearing too.
That’s disgraceful.

By: shula

shula — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 13:31:50 +0000

Sorry Helen, just realised it’s very rude to swear on someone’s blog.

Got a bit worked up there.

By: shula

shula — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 13:30:48 +0000

My 18 year old boarder just paid $1500 to do two weeks training as a hospital orderly (to learn how to wipe peoples’ bums) and then has had to do another 2 weeks unpaid ‘placement’.

She paid them. Good rort, eh?

Fuckers.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 09:52:17 +0000

I’ve been noticing the same thing about these ads.

This one particularly wasn’t very bright, as you’ve noted, but it isn’t as if the others were much more convincing. Having a public servant come on the screen and explain that she’s there to protect you if your employer breaks the law is all very nice, except that virtually all of this stuff is legal now – and people know this. It isn’t even coming close to taming the fears people actually hold about this legislation.

By: Helen

Helen — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:11:54 +0000

Five hours? FFS, I mean I might let it go if my spirit was sufficiently broken and the Girlchild was rolling her eyes, but is that going to break the business? Really, they shouldn’t be employing people if they operate on that kind of knife edge!

By: blue milk

blue milk — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 12:58:04 +0000

Great post, I’ve thought the same thing too watching that ad.

By: Ann of Brisbane

Ann of Brisbane — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 11:30:24 +0000

Helen, watch out for the unpaid trial. According to the Workplace Ombudsman’s site “unpaid trial periods are generally unlawful” but it seems they are a common pratice in the hospitality industry for one.
When we support/encourage our young people to seek casual work and get a taste of the work force I reckon most of us tell them not to ask about pay too early in the interview process.
If they are expected to do a trial it is very hard for them to ask “is is paid or not?.” They are generally just hoping to get a fair go to show their potential.
I’m hearing of an employer who quoted a registered agreement that enables him to trial someone unpaid for up to 5 hours. That’s not a fair go.