Graeme Ditchburn

Office space is one of the largest costs associated with running a business, which is why hot desking, where employees choose from a selection of available work sites rather than having an assigned workspace, has gained popularity since the 1990s. Greater collaboration is an essential ingredient in the creative process, and one of the arguments in favour of the adoption of hot desking in organisations. But research on information processing suggests employees need space to concentrate without distractions, and interruptions inhibit creativity. Open work spaces may actually undermine creativity by normalising group behaviours towards structures and boundaries. Frequent desk relocations can also waste time and generate additional work, and the noise associated with more open work spaces can increase distraction, mental workload, fatigue and stress, all of which can negatively impact productivity.

In Western Australia business is booming for the mining and resources sector. The number of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers employed in the state has increased over the last five years to more than 35,000. As a growing part of the electorate, where will the FIFO workers vote go in Saturday’s state election? There are many factors that determine political affiliation and voting behaviour, including the economy and personal income. As some of the highest-paid workers in the state, these issues lie particularly close to the heart and minds of FIFO workers. Traditionally tradies, transport workers, and labourers are more likely to vote for Labor as are union members. Although union membership has been dropping consistently since the 1960s political affiliation seems to be stable. On the other hand, high earners are more likely to vote for the coalition with lower earners supporting Labor, a pattern that is more evident for men than women.