When COVID-19 forced hairdressers to close, it inspired countless women to finally stop dyeing their hair. The identity shifts they experienced as a result surprised even them.
May 5, 2021
Australian small businesses are tracking well in their recovery from the economic shock of the pandemic. However, the sector needs at least 210,000 jobs to be created this year to fully bounce back, fresh data from Xero shows.
Simon O’Regan, director of Earl Canteen a group of six cafes across Melbourne’s business district says finding skilled staff is “certainly a challenge”.
“The challenge is finding skilled or experienced people in the first instance,” he tells
SmartCompany.
Accounting software company Xero has released a new small businesses economic recovery report based on data from its newly launched Small Business Index, developed in partnership with Accenture.
Source: AAP/Dan Peled.
Small businesses have spoken out against the federal government’s new hotline for employers to report job seekers who refuse an offer, labelling it a “big stick approach”.
The reporting hotline is one of several changes to social security announced by the government on Tuesday, alongside a $50 increase to the fortnightly base rate of JobSeeker from April and stronger mutual obligations for JobSeeker and Youth Allowance recipients.
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said the hotline would allow employers to “refer Jobseekers who are not genuine about their job search or decline the offer of a job”.
“So that if someone does apply for a job, they’re offered the job and they’re qualified for the job but they say no, the employer will now be able to contact my department and report that person,” Minister Cash said.