Did Workchoices Deliver? Evidence From Survey Data

Assessing the Impact of Employment Regulation on the Low-Paid in Victoria

“…While employment entitlements did not change significantly, a substantial percentage of workers indicated a change in the pace of work, the amount of effort they exerted and the stress they felt. This differs from the findings of Saville et al (2009) findings regarding perceptions held by human resource management professionals across Australia of work intensification and employee productivity under WorkChoices. Our interview data suggested many low-paid workers work more hours than for what they are paid.…”

“…This parallels the findings of Pocock et al (2008) on the perception by low-paid workers that WorkChoices strengthened managerial prerogative and that this then led to work intensification. Once again, it is contrary to the findings of Saville et al (2009) based on perceptions of human resource managers.…”

“…The evidence from this survey showing increased job intensification from the employees' perspective was again not reflected in the findings of Saville et al (2009), suggesting differing realities of employees and managers under these regulatory systems.…”

“…I have been a big drinker pretty much for all my adult life but I do think it's a contributing factor to my drinking. (Interviewee from manufacturing sector 2007) This evidence runs counter to that offered by 2,500 human resource professionals to Saville et al (2009), who found that WorkChoices had not significantly changed work-family balance. These differences reflect the difference in the reality experienced by employees facing longer hours and increased stress compared to the perceptions of managers on employees' normal working hours.…”

“…While there is a considerably body of literature analysing WorkChoices and predicting its potential impact on workers, there are few studies of its actual impact. A national survey of human resource managers by Saville et al (2009) failed to find any significant change during the WorkChoices era with respect to productivity, job creation and work-life balance. They concluded that from the perspective of human resource professionals, employers and employees were neither better nor worse off under WorkChoices.…”