LinkedIn News Australia

Do you use fake meetings to block out time for exercise, phone calls or appointments in your calendar? It’s a well-used tactic to ensure co-workers or managers can’t double-book time with you when you need to appear as ‘busy’. Recently, Google Calendar launched a new feature that allows users to block time for specific tasks, marking them as busy without needing to create fake meetings, reports SmartCompany. This update, available to all Google Workspace and personal Gmail users, enables auto-declining of conflicting invitations and setting deadlines by date. Do you block out time in your daily calendar for personal commitments? Vote in our poll below, and tell us more in the comments. By Cathy Anderson Sources: SmartCompany: https://lnkd.in/dvkndaqt

Have Australia's right to disconnect laws made it easier for you to switch off after hours? A report from the Australian Institute's Centre for Future Work reveals the new laws have improved conditions for workers. The laws allow employees to refuse after-hours work-related contact unless the refusal is considered unreasonable. Unpaid overtime for full-time workers has reduced from 6.2 hours a week to 3.8 hours. This change translates to a decrease in annual unpaid overtime from $13,392 to $8,892. However, part-time workers saw an increase in unpaid overtime, highlighting potential gaps in the law's effectiveness. Employers report enhanced engagement and productivity, with 58% noting positive outcomes since the laws were enacted.   Is this a familiar story for you? Vote in our poll below, and tell us more in the comments. By Cathy Anderson Sources: Australian Associated Press (AAP): https://lnkd.in/dXtxChZ6

If you are passionate about the environment and looking for a career change, there's never been a better time to consider a green role, reveals the LinkedIn Green Skills Report 2025. While the green workforce continues to grow, the demand for skilled workers who can fill these roles continues to outstrip supply. But green roles aren’t restricted to those whose sole function is sustainability. For the first time, the largest driver of green hires is workers with green skills in jobs that could traditionally be done without them, with businesses hiring into roles that aren't 'green'. See the article below for the full data. What career trends are you seeing in the sustainability space? What’s your advice for upskilling to a greener role? Comment below or share this article in a post with your own perspective using #GreenerTogether, #COP30 and #LinkedInNewsAustralia. By Cathy Anderson Source: LinkedIn's Economic Graph, Akash Kaura

Have you ever been told you have to work on Christmas Day? BHP has been ordered to pay nearly $100,000 for failing to consult its workforce about working on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (https://lnkd.in/dERrM7sA). The Federal Court's ruling, which includes a $15,000 fine and $83,700 in compensation to 85 affected coal mine workers in Queensland, follows a landmark full court judgment that requires employers to seek the consent of employees before automatically rostering them to work on public holidays. Workers have the right to refuse, but employers can require them to work if the refusal is deemed unreasonable. The ruling applies to all sectors, including retail, health, logistics and fast food. Is this fair for employers and workers alike? What are your thoughts on working on Christmas Day?

How inclusive are your company’s end-of-year social gatherings? Holding your office party in the evening may not be as inclusive as you think, writes Koru Kids CEO Rachel Carrell on LinkedIn. For staff who have children or live far from the party’s location, an afternoon get-together may be more appropriate, including for those who want to avoid drinking. Carrell says her firm made the switch, adding: "We have an evening 'after-party' for those who want to keep hanging out, but it's totally optional. The plan feels so much more inclusive and joyous now.” How do you think employers should rethink their party planning? Vote in our poll below, and tell us more in the comments. By Solange Uwimana and Cathy Anderson Sources: Rachel Carrell: https://lnkd.in/drFFFesS

Is ending a networking conversation harder than starting one? As in-person networking returns, so do its challenges: awkward handshakes, opening lines and knowing how to end a conversation gracefully. A smooth exit matters as much as a strong start, says organisational behaviour expert Andy Molinsky in Forbes. Give a signal to the other person that the conversation is ending so you don't catch them off guard. For example, you can say something like, “I have to leave in a few minutes, but I wanted to ask you one more question.” Another strategy is to “find an elegant way to hand your conversational partner off to another person,” he says. You can also suggest natural breaking points, like moving to a different location, which creates multiple exit opportunities. Honesty works too — thank the person sincerely and explain why you need to step away. It’s direct, realistic and leaves a positive impression, he adds. How do you end a networking chat gracefully? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments. ✍: Neha Jain Kale Source: Forbes  https://lnkd.in/eNPX6Upf

Australia’s housing crisis could be eased if capital cities were rezoned to permit three-storey buildings in residential areas and six storeys near transport hubs and commercial centres, reveals a Grattan Institute report. It predicts this could reduce rents and house prices by 12% within a decade, saving renters $1,800 a year and dropping $100,000 off the median price for a home — making ownerships much more affordable for younger generations. The report also suggests more relaxed planning restrictions, with projects to proceed without a planning permit as long as they meet basic standards. In a post on LinkedIn, Grattan Institute Senior Associate Matthew Bowes says the plan has other advantages. “Our recommended reforms would boost Australians’ incomes by increasing productivity, create better-functioning labour markets by allowing people to live and work where they want, and reduce car use and hence carbon emissions,” he writes. What do you think of the plan? Could it both alleviate the housing crisis and support the construction sector? Share your perspective in the comments. By Cathy Anderson Sources: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC): https://lnkd.in/d2cbZv2h Matthew Bowes: https://lnkd.in/dY9VA3Jd

Welcome to the CEO of the Month, a new series in which the most important leaders in our region will share their best advice on job and career search, leadership, mental health and business strategy among other topics. It's also an opportunity to get to know these CEOs beyond their LinkedIn profile. This month, we speak to Employment Hero CEO Ben Thompson, who shares his advice for leaders on adapting and staying resilient. "Know what you're trying to achieve. Have a clear mission," he says. "Write it down on a piece of paper and go after it every single day." Watch the video below to see Thompson's tips and share your advice for leaders on adapting to change. By Brendan Wong

As global temperatures hit new peaks and debate over net zero goals continues in Australia, world leaders are preparing to meet in Belém, Brazil for COP30. What should the ideal outcomes be from this year’s summit? Professionals on LinkedIn are sharing their views about the event, to be held from November 10 to 21, which has 30 objectives. Its Action Agenda is built around six thematic pillars: 🌳 Energy, industry and transport to accelerate the shift to renewables. 🌳 Forests, oceans and biodiversity to protect ecosystems and Indigenous rights. 🌳 Agriculture and food systems to help tackle deforestation. 🌳 Cities, infrastructure and water to build resilient urban and rural communities. 🌳 Human and social development to address health, jobs, education and climate justice. 🌳 Cross-cutting enablers such as finance and technology. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/drZjdsgc Australia is in the running alongside Türkiye to host COP31, with Adelaide cited as host city should the bid be successful. Ahead of COP30, we're encouraging people to share their experiences and opinions around sustainability and climate change. We’d love you to weigh in: What do you think the priorities should be for leaders at this year’s summit? What decisions do you want to see? Comment below or share your views in a post using #GreenerTogether, #COP30 and #LinkedInNewsAustralia. By Cathy Anderson

Residents in NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia will get access to free solar power three hours a day under a new federal government initiative called Solar Sharer. Households can receive the electricity regardless of whether or not they have solar panels fitted to their home, with the offer available to home owners as well as renters and those living in apartments as long they have a smart meter. They must also opt in to new plans that electricity companies will be obliged to create. Other areas of Australia not covered by the AER will likely have access to the scheme from 2027. The aim is to encourage electricity use at off-peak times when it is sunniest, reduce pressure on peak usage and encourage a mindset shift towards renewable energy. Climate groups praise the scheme but the Australian Energy Council said it was a "shock" move that could damage industry confidence and force smaller energy operators out of the market which would reduce competition. The news comes amid a boom in home battery uptake, with Australian financial startup Brighte securing $40 million in funding from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to finance household solar, battery and energy upgrades with discounted green loans. What do you think of the plan? Could it accelerate the energy transition? Tell us more in the comments. By Cathy Anderson Image: Getty Images Sources: The Sydney Morning Herald: https://lnkd.in/gUcbYh24 Capital Brief: https://lnkd.in/gtADPAxR