This is AHRI’s second study, in association with Deakin University, on the impact for the Fair Work Act in Australian workplaces. The findings provide a first hand perspective on the operational impact of the Fair Work laws.

The current survey was delivered and coordinated in an online format by AHRI, was open between August and November 2011, and was distributed to AHRI’s membership, which number around 18,000. By the closing date 691 valid responses had been received. Most of the questions asked in the current survey replicated questions asked in the 2010 survey, so that comparisons could be made between the two sets of data in any analysis undertaken outside the purview of the present report.

No analysis of the data presented in this report is attempted. Nor is any explanation provided to account for the findings of the current survey or for the differences between the findings of this survey and the findings of the 2010 survey. What is given are the unmediated findings of both surveys, with supporting commentary summarising the key points.

Select key findings:

• 51% believe industrial relations costs will increase further in a year’s time (37% believed that in 2010)
• 65% report it taking more time to formulate employment contracts (down marginally from 68% in 2010)
• 29% report productivity has decreased (13% reported that in 2010).
• 31% believe that allowing individual labour contracts, subject to a “better off overall’ test, would either somewhat or greatly improve productivity
• 31% believe allowing a choice between union and non-union negotiated agreements would somewhat or greatly improve productivity.
• 42% report flexible employee working arrangements have increased while 18% report they decreased, with 38% reporting ‘no change’. This question was not asked in 2010.
• 35% report that under the new unfair dismissal threshold it has been harder to make jobs redundant (26% reported that in 2010).