Working in Australia

How is working in Australia?

Australians are known for being relaxed people. However, their laid-back nature does not carry over to Australian workplaces. Check out the following advice to understand Australians’ attitudes to work better, and to appreciate how Australians strike up their work-life balance.

• Endless opportunities

  Working in Australia correlates to the Australian values of “a fair go” and equal opportunity. Known for being open-hearted and open-minded in nature, workplaces tend to have a more informal hierarchy in the workplace. A flat line management structure and open workspaces are pretty common. Where hierarchies do exist, organisations work hard to establish healthy relationships across all management levels. This results in a relaxing working atmosphere, and opens the door for less competition among peers, instead of working together for the common good of the company.

• Strong work ethic

  Australians are fiercely independent in nature. From a young age, Australian youths are encouraged by their families and schools to get involved in their communities, explore their interests and talents, and take on a part-time jobs whilst in high school. This means, that by the time they have received their Bachelor’s degree, they may have had a few prior jobs. So, it only makes sense that in the Australian workplace, your colleagues will be productive, efficient and “hardcore”. That’s Australian slang for – you better be prepared to work hard!

• Work / life balance in Australia

  Australia is well known for its emphasis on great work/ life balance, most jobs are within the typical hours of 9-5. With the exception of working in retail stores after hours or on the weekends, Australia offers amazing financial compensation. Their emphasis on work/ life balance is always in place to ensure the long-term staff satisfaction and happiness in and out of work. Australians believe that balancing work and life is crucial to staff retention, which is why a majority of workplaces are understanding and sympathetic to taking time off due to personal reasons.

• Working hours in Australia

  The typical working hours for Australians are Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 5 pm. However, don’t be surprised if your colleagues invite you out for after-work drinks. These sessions are crucial for team bonding, however, you can always say no too!

  In the instance that you are required to work overtime, on Sundays or on public holidays, here’s the lowdown: