The Fair Work Ombudsman and the Foundation for Young Australians have partnered to release new resources to help young workers do deal with workplace concerns.
Six new videos available on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s YouTube channel address issues commonly experienced by young workers and give tips for dealing with workplace concerns.
The videos cover topics such as ‘Warning signs for young people in the workplace’ and ‘How to address being treated unfairly at work’.
A range of specialised resources for young workers is also available on the Fair Work Ombudsman website. They include a guide to starting a new job and a best-practice guide for young workers.
The Fair Work Ombudsman has also set out to bust commonplace myths relating to young workers.
Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Kristen Hannah says young workers continue to be an area of concern for the agency.
“Young workers make up only 16 per cent of the Australian workforce, but they account for a quarter of all the requests for assistance we receive,” she said. “This is disproportionately high.
“We also know that young workers can be more vulnerable, as their limited workplace experience can result in a lack of awareness of their rights.
“This is why our agency is focused on equipping young workers with the knowledge and confidence they need to better understand their entitlements and provide them with information on how to resolve workplace issues.”
Ms Hannah encourages young workers to use the new resources and get in touch with the Fair Work Ombudsman if they needed assistance with problems at work.
Employees and employers who have questions or concerns about their workplace rights and obligations can seek assistance through the My Account portal at www.fairwork.gov.au or by calling the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.