r/auscorp

Original post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/auscorp/s/zVsv9Q1l6K

I responded to my managers message on Friday night letting them know I had left early due to an hour commute and having to take my meds on time, thanking me for having me there and for the night in general.

Now Monday morning, I’ve received a text from said manager saying they’ve paid $300 per head and I should’ve given a heads up if I knew I wasn’t going to stay until dinner/the whole event.

Now I’m feeling guilty and feel like it’s going to be awks next time I see manager in the office. FML.

Happy Sunday lol. I just turned 27 and have no idea what path to take. I am currently working as a lawyer (2PQE) on 95k (excl. super) and have just over 90k sitting in a HISA and 10k invested in shares. I moved back home at the start of the year and don’t have any plans to buy a house or start renting again. I despise working and always find myself sick and miserable. I really want to have a year off to travel, but I’m scared it’s a bit risky this early in my career (just started a new job as well).

I just want people’s opinions on what they would do in my position. I think the plan is to stay in this role for another year and hopefully at that point I would have closer to 130k. But is it worth draining my bank account for a year of travel while all my peers buy houses and get married lol.

If you were me, what would you do?

Not an office worker but a good ol tradie, however I figured that you folks may have some answers to a question I have. Im a big caffeine fiend like i’m sure many of yous are, usually going for mr. dare iced coffee or a monster. Been using some caffeine pouches I bought on Amazon recently which have worked well, but in favour of continuing to switch it up, was wondering if any of you guys had alternatives that you use to keep focused on long days? Id imagine coffee is still the main go to in this respect?

A little rant.

I joined a big bank that loves to market itself as a prestigious place to build your career. I landed a role within the investments team, and over the last months, reality has looked very different from what was sold during the interview process.

The staff turnover has been unbelievable. I’ve worked in a lot of environments and I’m a high performer, but I’ve never seen so many people leave in such a short period of time. That alone says a lot.

The expectations discussed during recruitment were one thing, yet every day we do almost double the workload. Somewhere between the interview and actually doing the job, the goalposts moved.

Then there’s leadership.

It feels like every second conversation is “AI this” and “AI that,” with decisions seemingly driven by whatever AI spits out instead of genuine operational experience or critical thinking. After six years across 3 organisations, I’ve realised something.

Every company loves to sell culture, wellbeing and work-life balance. When the pressure is on, they’ll work you to the bone and somehow still expect more. Different logo, same story.

I got offered a job but the work hrs suck its a 9 to 5 job and I would have to work a Saturday every fortnight but it pays 10 grand more a year. My current role is from 6 to 2 and I been there for a while. It's a cruise, but I am getting bored and frustrated. What should I do?

I've recently started a new role in a fairly large department at my company, and part of the job is building relationships with people across a range of other departments so I can better understand how the business operates.

The challenge is that I'm naturally pretty introverted. I usually eat lunch at my desk while working, so intentionally socialising doesn't come naturally to me.

Right now, I don't really have a work-related reason to call people or set up Teams meetings just to chat or ask questions. That got me thinking about using the lunchroom as a more natural way to meet people instead.

For those of you who are good at networking in the workplace, do you have any tips for starting conversations or socialising in the lunchroom with people from other departments? I'm especially interested in advice that doesn't feel forced or awkward.

Last year, I spent 6 months off work due to bereavement leave after losing a child. I work part time (3 days), and so my WIO requirement is 1 day a week (2 days for the FT guys). My issue arises due to the following:

1. the FT guys barely do 2 days a week, sometimes 1 if at all.

2. And the absolutely thing that irks me is that for the 6 months I was off work I didn’t get sick ONCE. I went into the office two weeks ago. Some tosser sitting next to me was coughing and Lo and behold the next day myself and another colleague end up sick. I have been miserable for 2 weeks of sickness now with high fevers. Iv had to take unpaid leave due to no sick leave left.

Is it reasonably to discuss this my manager? He is really great, but will it actually achieve anything since there seems to be this ridiculous push to return to office?

NOTE- I get sick very easily and catch everything. There is someone who has not been in the office in my team for over a year due to an apparent autoimmune condition (yet said colleague has been to trips to Bali and Melbourne in the last year) but can’t come to the office. So I feel pissed that I am expected to keep going in, risking my health, while another colleague gets away with it!

Say there’s a project and the customer or managers want to know “how long will this take?”

Would you rather tell them “3.5 weeks” and it takes 4 weeks. Or would you rather say “5 weeks” and do it in 4 weeks?

Something has been on my mind after a recent incident at work.

A customer asked for an engineer not to return after this was the second engagement where both technical capability and professionalism were questioned(walking barefoot in a server room,shaking off a rain coat inside and talking over Bluetooth in a different language and walking around in customer site)It wasn't one isolated mistake—it was a pattern that ultimately cost the customer's confidence.

As someone who migrated from overseas and now works in a customer-facing leadership role, I sometimes feel we carry an extra responsibility. Fair or unfair, people can judge an entire community based on a handful of interactions. That's why I've always tried to over-deliver, communicate well, own my mistakes, respect workplace etiquette and build trust with customers.

It's disappointing when repeated incidents reinforce negative stereotypes because they don't just affect the individual—they can make life harder for everyone else who has spent years building credibility.

Do employers need to do a better job assessing customer-facing skills, communication and professionalism alongside technical ability? Or is it simply an individual accountability issue?

Interested to hear from other migrants, hiring managers and customers. Have you seen similar situations, and what's the best way to address them without unfairly stereotyping an entire community?

I'm looking for some objective career advice because I'm struggling to work out whether I've stayed too long or whether this is just how organisations work.

I've been in the same professional role for several years. Throughout that time I've consistently been a high performer and expressed an interest in getting involved in more cross-functional projects and higher-profile initiatives because I wanted to develop and prepare myself for more senior roles.

Instead, another colleague at the same level has repeatedly become the "go-to" person for those opportunities. They've been given exposure to senior leaders, visible projects and stretch assignments, while I've largely continued doing my core role.

I've spoken to my managers over the years about wanting more development, but despite those conversations the pattern hasn't really changed.

Recently, a senior leadership role was advertised that is exactly the type of work I'd love to do. Reading the selection criteria was honestly upsetting because I realised many of the capabilities they're looking for are things you develop through those kinds of opportunities.

I don't believe I lack the potential to do that sort of work. What I feel I'm lacking is the opportunity to build the experience that's now expected.

I'm now wondering whether I've stayed in this role too long and whether my career has plateaued because I wasn't exposed to those same developmental opportunities.

For those who've been in a similar situation:

• Did you eventually get those opportunities where you were?
• Did you move organisations?
• How did you rebuild your career and confidence when someone else seemed to receive most of the stretch assignments?

I'm genuinely looking for honest advice, especially from people who've managed teams or experienced something similar.

edit: Thank you for all your helpful well thought out response. It’s given me a lot to think about. I have exhausted many of these suggestions. Things are becoming clearer. BTW, l really wanted to give management the benefit of the doubt but they are also mates and have been for a long time.

Hi Everyone! Before I jump in let me give you the background. I’m male and have been working at a firm for the last 6.5 years in Melbourne. I’m middle level management and my performance has been consistently good throughout.

In Feb this year it was alleged by a junior coworker that I was inappropriate with her and aggressive in my feedback. There were 4 allegations of which 2 were substantiated and 2 were not. I was given a final warning and some counselling from my work place.

I got suspended from work on Friday with an allegation that I have bullied / harassed someone at work. All my work laptops / emails etc were immediately turned off.

A few weeks ago I had invested 3500 as cash with a work colleague of mine. My partner found out and she suspected that I have gambled it away or used it for some random stuff which I haven’t. I requested this work colleague of mine to return the money at work through an online transfer despite giving him cash.

He said he’ll try but I insisted sighting my partners fears. He returned the money in cash and subsequently blocked my number saying plz don’t invoke me in your personal matters.

I’m not sure if he raised a complaint about me - I don’t know what to do.

I don’t love working here so I’m not scared about loosing a dream job. But I’m scared of having “fired” on my record.

I am not eligible for fair work because I cross the income threshold. I don’t know what to do.

1. Should I get legal help? There are messages I’ve sent him that he can use as proof

2. Should I just quit before cooperating with the investigation?

3. Should I contact him to see if it was him? I am so confused. I didn’t pressure or threaten him at all

Really lost for words.. I’ve been battling deep depression and adhd for the last 6 months and I’m not feeling great about my life right now

My boss is the company favourite but behind the scene he’a try hard, manipulator, gaslighter and all round toxic person. Im shocked no one has caught him out / he’s in his job but here we are!

Although I may have enough to “raise a case” in another org, I don’t think I would have broad support if I escalated, asked for help or went to HR here as most of my peers either don’t see what I see or just want to avoid trouble and escalations have never landed well, have openly said they’ve given up … so

Personally I find it infuriating to be constantly lied to or misguided. It’s been easier, for example, just to do things my way and get information through other channels as he’s so unreliable…but it’s impacting my and my team’s ability to do our jobs.

Given the current market I want to just stay put and ignore the behaviour for a certain time, maybe a year, until opportunities open elsewhere and I can move on. This is really bad for my mental health but as I need to eat 🤣 looking for tips to

-ignore the behaviour

-worry about myself and my team

-give my team enough to work with

-stay out of trouble o not attract attention

I naturally like to extend myself and take special projects so as a first step I’ve refocused my energies on my basic job description and am respectfully setting boundaries to do only that.

Another thing g I’ve found fulfilling is investing more in my team / directs as I really like them and they are kind and transparent so that helps keep sane

Other than this, keen to get your tips on how I can survive the next +/- 12 months?

Bonjour,

Je suis un etudiant etranger en France (Maroc) j'ai eu mon Mastere en RH au Maroc + 6 mois exp en tant que RH généraliste (adp paie recrutemetn) + 7 mois chargé de recrutement IT et je suis venu en France et j'ai refais un autre Master en RH maintenant je sui en M2 et j'ai fais 2 mois interim cHARGé de recrutement dans une entps et pour le moment j'ai 3 offres d'alternance : Chargé de mission RH dans une boite qui m’intéresse pas et trop loin et 2 : Chargé de sourcing / recrutement dans un cabine de recrutement des ingenieurs et la 3 c'est Payroll HR (paie + ADP) en France et international dans une multinatio car j ia passé les entretiens en Anglais ; ils sont a Paris et m'ont dis qu'il offre 1 jour Teletravail et d autre avantages... moi ce qui m interrsse c quand je finis mon alternance je trouve un CDI peu importe Paie formation recrutement . je suis jeune mais en meme temps un baby boomer genre je veux juste travailler faire une famille quoi ... et donc selon vous La Paie est il un bon choix ? genre demandé ou en tension ou je reste sur le recrutement ... ??

Anyone ever worked in big companies where most of the work is done by external contractors and it almost seems like internal people have little to no understanding of what is being done or handed over to them.

I'm not sure how everyone navigates situations where projects are running and just go live whilst avoiding any problems raised by people in project. I'm always hearing things like we don't have the budget to do this, or we will arrange a meeting to discuss but it's just people talking with no actions and outcomes. Almost seems like people just implement things half done and walk away then everyone starts to wonder why things don't work.

Curious to see what everyone's experience is like with big corporate companies and how you deal with it. I wouldn't be surprised if its the same in most places.

Tried my old RM Williams the other day and got bad knee pain from a lot of walking because of the solid heels on them. Anyone got recommendation for similar style shoe that has some squishiness in the heel to provide good impact absorption from walking?

Hey everyone,

I'm a final-year Computer Science student in Australia. To be completely honest, I mostly chose this field for the money and job stability.

I recently landed an upcoming graduate Software Engineer role at a big 4 bank paying $84k base + super. While I am incredibly thrilled and grateful to have secured a role in this brutal market, I am also dealing with a lot of anxiety about the tech industry's future.

Between the non-stop talk about AI advancements, ongoing layoffs, and offshoring, I am genuinely worried about long-term job security. It has gotten to the point where I am seriously considering jumping straight into a new 4-year Electrical Engineering degree after I graduate, as I hear EE is booming and offers better physical job security even if pay is slightly lower.

Is it worth taking the jump to re-study engineering or should I just take the grad role and make the most of my situation? Thanks !

Just wondering what your daily email average is? for context, I am a team lead, looking after a team of three.

I spent the day (yes, Saturday) catching up on outstanding matters and out of interest decided to see how many emails I receive on the daily - either as something I need to respond to, or what’s been forwarded to me as an FYI or something that I absolutely don’t need to deal with and just clutters my inbox.

The daily average was 65 emails across a week. Tues-Thurs were much higher, with around 70 emails a day.

This being in addition to the own workload that I have to do.

Emails required anywhere between 3 minutes - 2 hours to deal with depending on the type if email, or the question asked (legal services).

I realised I spend around 5 hours of my day just dealing with emails, leaving very little time to focus on my own cases.

Do other managerial people experience the same (whether as team leads or managers or otherwise)?

I often feel exhausted working in the office. My commute is about 45 mins each way. But I feel fine wfh. Does anyone feel the same? Why is that?

TL;DR: Looking for Sydney based presentation skills course recommendations. Work funded 🫡

I'm hoping the AusCorp brains trust can point me in the right direction.

I'm looking for recommendations for a presentation/public speaking course in Sydney or online (but face to face is likely better 🫠).

I'm a Snr Product Manager and I have no issues putting together a good presentation. Structuring the story, simplifying complex information, building the deck, even structuring the narrative/talking notes... that's the part I LOVE.

The bit I struggle with is actually presenting it. Sometimes I absolutely nail it, but more often than not I get nervous and it comes across in my voice and mannerisms. I also rely way too heavily on my notes as a bit of a security blanket, which I know isn't helping.

The good news is I get plenty of opportunities to practise at work and my managers are incredibly supportive. I've come a LONG way over the last 12-18 months, but I feel like I've reached the point where some formal coaching would really help me level up.

Improving this is important for the next step in my career, so I'd like to invest in doing it properly. Work has agreed to fund whatever course I decide to do.

Has anyone done a course they'd genuinely recommend? I'm open to anything from one or two-day workshops through to longer programs if they're worth it. Bonus points if you've done it yourself and can tell me what actually made it worthwhile (or what wasn't).

Xoxo one super introverted, dry mouthed, wobbly voiced girl 🎀🫶🏻