Fed: Survey shows Work Choices making people better off - Howard

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2007
Fed: Survey shows Work Choices making people better off - Howard

SYDNEY, Aug 23 AAP - A survey of 1,000 human resource managers by Deakin University
has proved Work Choices is making Australian workers better off, Prime Minister John Howard
says.

The study, commissioned by the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), found more
than a quarter of respondents had allowed employees more sick days and had more direct
communications with employees.

The report also found since Work Choices was introduced more personal carer days had
been allowed, with 38.7 per cent of respondents saying there had been increased activity
in this area.

Mr Howard welcomed the report and warned Australians against Opposition leader Kevin
Rudd's plan to scrap the controversial workplace agreement scheme.

"It's clear from that report that Work Choices has given employees and employers more
flexibility and more opportunities," he told reporters today.

But the report also found 55 per cent of respondents noted a need for more record keeping
and a need to seek legal advice, and 40 per cent said Work Choices made employment arrangements
more complex.

"Any new law requires a period of time for people to get to understand it but it's
the outcomes that matter," Mr Howard said.

"Outcomes is the most important thing of all, process in a way is irrelevant to the
average person," he said.

"I thought the most significant thing was improved choices in relation to work-life balance.

"I thought the fact that more time was given to parents who had sick children because
of the greater flexibility, employers and employees were able to reach arrangements to
their mutual benefit - that is a message to me that is very relevant to this whole debate."

AAP ig/bd/wjf/maur/de

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE HOWARD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.