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neWs

Capturing opportunity from a crisis

esearch by The Australia Institute in-
Rdicates that unemployment and hours
worked fell further for women than for
men during the height of the pandemic.
“Between March and April, the number
of women employed fell 5.3% compared
to 3.9% for men, and for hours worked
the pattern was the same with women
losing 11.5% of their hours compared to
the loss by men of 7.5%. It is clear that
women are facing the brunt of the reces-
sion so far,” Dr. Richard Denniss, chief
economist at the Australia Institute, stat-
ed in June.
“But despite the clear evidence that
women are disproportionately losing
their jobs and incomes, the Morrison
Government is developing stimulus poli-
cies that disproportionately favour male-
dominated industries.” Geology is a mining-related subject
Classed an essential industry, mass recognising that being able to connect popular with women at university
job cuts in the mining sector have been people that have gone on to have fami-
avoided. Instead, workforces have lies and those that we didn’t recognise going to take a very long time before our
adapted to longer rosters to overcome were out there. full workforces are back in the office and
the varied travel restrictions implement- “It is a really good initiative that the we need to ensure everyone is working
ed by Australia’s states and territories. WASM alumni are a part of, trying to join safely in the office and off site, rotating or
While jobs in the resources sector are the dots between the highly qualified, ca- whatever the situation might be,” Women
not bulletproof, protecting current staff- pable women that have had a family and and Leadership Australia (WLA) general
ing levels and exploring options that will want to get back in the workforce. manager global executive director and
shape the future of site-based and office “I think that is a significant opportunity, Australian School of Applied Manage-
roles are in play. seeing how efficient it is working from ment (ASAM) chief executive Suzi Fin-
Communication technology in the ilk of home. To think that at the start of the year kelstein told Paydirt.
Zoom and Microsoft Teams – which were we were going to have our entire office “I am hearing that there is more pro-
available sometime before the pandemic not in the office but still be able to manage ductivity, people are feeling more trusted
– appear to be here to stay as vital plat- through it highlights that potential.” and have more autonomy. They are also
forms to do business and run companies. Mining and the broader corporate able to manage their days better because
“Technology is going to be absolutely world have taken significant strides in they can work around the other needs.
critical and will eventually change the addressing the gender imbalance within Organisations are starting to think really
way we do business,” Saracen Minerals their workforces by better understand- differently about what the return-to-work
Holding Ltd managing director Raleigh ing the issues affecting both men and phase looks like over the next year.”
Finlayson told Paydirt earlier this year. women. Finkelstein said one silver lining from
“I think COVID allows us to tap into One of the reactions has been more the pandemic was the assumptions
those opportunities but also helps us in flexible work arrangements and reported around working hours.
impacts include cohe- She said the relationship between
sive units operating at presenteeism, working hours and out-
higher levels of produc- put were being challenged as productiv-
tivity and efficiency. The ity was increased on the back of people
pandemic has only re- managing their hours.
inforced the benefits of “The challenge though is that many
flexibility. of our participants, many of our women
“Organisations and are working longer hours. Going to work
individuals have learned means there are some sort of bounda-
we can do this better and ries, whereas working from home it is
we can be more creative very easy to work until 9pm and finish
with the way we work. I what you wanted to. I am hoping that we
am hoping that the good are going to self-manage that,” Finkel-
things we have learned stein asked.
sticks. Many organisa- Shifting dynamics in the workplace
tions have learned it is could be the fillip for the mining sector to

Greater gender and cultural diversity is being called for in the
mining industry

Page 12 JULY 2020 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT