Business Smarts
Top stories
'Sorry, boss, my desk shrank my brain'
STUDY claims open-plan offices reduce productivity and clean desks can "leave employees with smaller brains".
Hungry for lunch? Clocks are ticking, girls
ALMOST a third of women do not take a proper lunch break - with many bringing in meals from home and eating at desks.
Racism claim: 'Little white lie' key to CV
A SUDANESE man who has applied for more than 1000 jobs says he only gets callbacks when he uses a fake Anglo name.
Bean counters frown on coffee breaks
COFFEE drinkers are bigger time wasters in the office than smokers and the boss is not happy with the loss of productivity
Miners beg government for more workers
MINERS so desperate for staff they are considering hiring workers from depressed tourism areas and flying them to work.
Hello third child, goodbye mum's career
THINKING of that third baby? Well ladies think again as research shows extra family responsibility can be a real career killer.
More women climbing law firm ranks
MALE-dominated legal sector growing more feminine, with the number of women becoming law firm partners doubling this year.
CEO fired over women sick day comment
CEO loses job after sparking fury by saying female workers deserve less pay because they take leave once a month.
High stress lifestyle making Aussies sick
WORK named as the number one stresser as poll finds half of all Australians are so worried that their health is suffering from it.
Lawyers 'dated before harassment case'
CLAYTON Utz lawyer at centre of a $200,000 sexual harassment claim by his former colleague dated her before she joined the law firm.
Video skilled the barista star
WHEN commerce student Daniel Moxham was knocked back for a job at a drive-through coffee outlet, the wannabe barista refused to take no for an answer.
Top legal firm accused of sleazy practices
SHE'S the young lawyer taking on a top law firm, claiming a "one night stand" with a senior colleague led to a campaign of harassment.
Jobseekers confident, despite lack of jobs
AUSTRALIANS are optimistic about finding work, despite recent numbers showing there are fewer job vacancies around.
Most people 'happy with working hours'
MOST Aussies are happy with the number of hours they work and believe they are achieving the right work/life balance, says a study.
Tax cuts will be our priority - Abbott
OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott promises "lower, simpler, fairer taxes" and a fair go for middle income families with children.
Bosses irate at home compensation ruling
EMPLOYER groups outraged by legal decision making employers responsible for injuries suffered by staff working from home.
Tall shoppers tired of being sold short
With each generation of Australians about 2cm taller than the previous one businesses are short-changing themselves by overlooking the growing needs of the statuesque.
Miners can't get no (job) satisfaction
MINE bosses told to consider sex lives of their employees to keep couples happy and boost workers' job satisfaction.
Women take more sick leave, CEO claims
NZ business leader under fire for saying female workers are paid less because some women take sick leave "once a month".
Ten golden rules for getting a pay rise
AS the end of financial year nears, many prepare to try their luck for a pay rise. Bernard Salt says there are ten rules for making the big pitch.
Corrupt official claimed overtime for sex
COUNCIL worker accepted free massages and sex services, and was wined and dined in return for a favourable report for business.
Workplace bullying: Watch and suffer
THE people who hate their office the most may have been both a victim and a witness to workplace bullying, says a study.
Want a glass of tap water? That'll be $5
TOP chef charges customers $5 for a glass of fancy tap water to ease his environmental guilt - and it's probably legal to do so.
Skills gaps put staff under stress - study
WORKERS are getting headhunted and more stressed out as the skills gap begins to hit more than just short-term corporate profits.
Email protest urged after Mangos axed
AN emotional Sky News host Paul Murray has used the opening of his show to appeal for support for dumped anchor John Mangos.
Want a shorter working day? Try 1.5 hours
AUSTRALIANS may soon be called in to work for 1.5 hours a day, earning as little as $23, as retailers halve minimum shifts.
Peter Harvey tweets support for Mangos
VETERAN journalists defend newsreader John Mangos after he was sacked from Sky News following racist comments.
Bra chief sues for $9m over bullying claim
FEMALE executive at leading bra brand claims she was sacked for wanting a payrise and standing up to abuse from her boss.
Phoenix companies burning consumers
CONSUMERS are being left high and dry by dishonest financial advisers, prompting a call for a tightening of relevant laws.
Aussie women told to stop 'playing nice'
CULTURE encourages "nice girls" rather than women who seek success in their careers and private lives, corporate coach says.
The boom jobs of the next 20 years
GET the lowdown on the careers that China's booming economy will make the most lucrative in the world over the next two decades.
Stock Quotes
Market Charts at 12:00AM
| Switch to Chart | Points | Change | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hang Seng | 19783.67 | +452.97 | +2.34 |
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| ASX200 | 4172.6 | +31.8 | +0.77 |
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| All Ords | 4237.9 | +34.4 | +0.82 |
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| Nikkei | 8981.94 | -56.8 | -0.63 |
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| Switch to Chart | Points | Change | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| DJIA | 11143.3096 | +423.37 | +3.95 |
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| S&P; 500 | 1172.64 | +51.88 | +4.63 |
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| S&P; 100 | 575.64 | -10.07 | -1.72 |
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| NASDAQ | 2492.68 | +111.63 | +4.69 |
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| Switch to Chart | Points | Change | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAC 40 | 3089.66 | +86.67 | +2.89 |
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| DAX 30 | 5797.66 | +184.24 | +3.28 |
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| FTSE | 5162.83 | +155.67 | +3.11 |
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| Euro Top100 | 1940.89 | +49.96 | +2.64 |
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| Switch to Chart | Points | Change | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUD/USD | 1.028 | -0.01 | -0.54 |
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| Switch to Chart | Points | Change | Percent |
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| Oil | 84.25 | -1.47 | -1.71 |
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ASX200 - Top Gainers & Losers at 04:40PM
| Code | Name | Price | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| GWA | GWA Group | 2.55 | 6.69% |
| AUN | Austar | 1.015 | 6.28% |
| NWS | News Corporation | 15.66 | 6.16% |
| BSL | BlueScope Steel | 0.905 | -7.66% |
| GRY | Gryphon Minerals | 1.63 | -4.4% |
| APN | APN News & Media | 0.9 | -3.75% |
