READING online the draft code of conduct suggested by Safe Work Australia in managing workplace fatigue is an absolute joke. The suggestions made that it will become the employer’s responsibility to monitor fatigue in the workplace caused by employee’s social life are nothing short of absurd.
The code suggests that employers should train their employees in balancing the demands of work and their personal lives, ensuring that they don’t leave work tired and not able to enjoy out-of-work activities.
How can an employer be responsible for the lifestyle led by their employees outside of working hours? What if an employee has a second job at night and comes to work tired the next day? Why should the main employer be responsible in this situation?
Employees who have an active social life and don’t have enough rest prior to their working day should be held accountable for their actions not the workplace. Employees have no obligation to tell an employer what they are doing outside of work and nor should they it’s not the employers concern, so why should it be the employers responsibility to worry about an employee’s fatigue caused by their personal lives?
The federal government, which is responsible for Safe Work Australia, is forgetting about businesses in this country. They are forgetting that without jobs employees would not be able to have money to spend in their social lives.
I believe that certain regulations need to be in place for workplace safety but to suggest that employers should also now be responsible for ensuring employees don’t party too hard, have family commitments or a second job to pay to get ahead in this world is just ludicrous.
An employee can show up for work on a Monday and lie and say they weren’t doing anything on the weekend to make them tired but the code suggests that the employer could still be accused of breaking the code if the employee claims workplace fatigue.
The federal government needs to take a serious look at its self before it over-regulates business to the point of it’s not worth being in business anymore and we begin to see small businesses closing down. It’s hard enough managing employees at work as it is without worrying about being responsible for fatigue caused by their personal lives.
Are we becoming a nation more concerned about social activities rather than working to build our nation?
I would be interested to hear Mr Windsor’s, Mr Andersons and the candidate for New England, Mr Torbay’s views on the suggested changes.
JYE SEGBOER
CEO POWERHOUSE HOTEls