u/Spellscribe

Hey folks. I'm not at one of the big ones, I'm at an independently owned store but looking to join one of the above.

I actually really love the job, the people, and the business, but have been side eyeing some of the more subjective areas, like inter-staff conflict, staffing ratios and workload. The place is otherwise really by the book with the black and white stuff like PPE, pay rates, OT, breaks, sick leave etc.

I plan to make a safety complaint regarding night staffing (or lack of) very soon and thigh I can do that myself, would love a bit of background support if nothing's done about it, or if future issues arise.

I want to make sure my workplace is the best it can be. I understand RAFFWU is grass roots and more worker-centred, but not a "registered" union. What are the implications of that?

I've also seen a few comments that SDA is better at the nitty gritty, and wonder if a union that can present on premises might be the better choice if I'm not trying to pick a beef with the fresh food conglomerate.

Many thanks. I'm very new to all this—raised by parents who owned a biz and hated unions 😅

Hoo boy, gonna have to ask you guys to really dial it down and explain this to me like I just failed kindy math.

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If I ask my employer to contribute to my super on my behalf (as in, from my take home pay), does that *automatically* become a salary sacrifice arrangement? Or can it be a non-concessional, post-tax contribution?

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If I'm under the income threshold and meet the criteria, can I get the $500 contribution match AND put extra in at the concessional rate?

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Any downside to any of the above, assuming I'm on a mediocre wage and not going to hit the concessional contribution threshold?

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Anything I'm missing? Thank you!!

We get loads of native bees a couple times a year, when our lawn (which is ex-cow paddock, I believe—we've never turfed or seeded, just kept what was there) starts to flower.

How can I entice them to hang around, give them safe places to hide, and generally maintain a bee-friendly backyard?

We're sunny coast hinterland, half-acre, semi-rural with pretty good neighbours. No spraying on the properties immediately surrounding us that I've noticed. Our property is mostly grass, one (empty) veggie garden, and a few trees (a weeping lillypilly, a lemon myrtle, an accidental guava, and some bottle brushes).

We've also got two sheep that are now contained in the rear part of the property, so we can plant some things that won't get eaten immediately.