Should underpaying bosses end up behind bars? Aussies abandon private school in droves, and more top news

The news Australian professionals are talking about now, curated by LinkedIn’s editors. Join the conversation in the comments below.

The federal government is eager to criminalise wage theft and is considering the introduction of jail sentences of up to 10 years for serious offenders. Punishing bosses for the underpayment of staff is a key plank of the government’s industrial relations reform package. Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter will introduce a discussion paper this week that will define “the threshold for criminal sanctions” with the government agreeing that significant jail time is needed “to deter further cases.” Here's what people are saying.

Australians are increasingly struggling to afford private school fees, which have tripled over the last twenty years and are “leaving in droves,” The AFR reports. Enrollment numbers have plunged as the pressure of rising housing costs and low wage growth impact parents. Although many consider the networks of private school alumni to be a professional advantage, others say that employers aren't all that fussed, and that there's little evidence directly linking private school educations to better careers. Still, up to two-thirds of Australian CEOs attended private schools. Here’s what people are saying. 

In pledging to speak out on social issues, a growing contingent of Australian business leaders say that both their staff and customers expect that companies “have a social conscience,” The Australian reports. Qantas and Virgin’s chief executives have joined leaders from BHP and Atlassian in pushing back on the government’s contention they avoid environmental and social issues and concentrate on “core business concerns.” Qantas boss Alan Joyce said the airline was “not politically aligned,” but should not be told “what it can and cannot say.” Here's what people are saying.

Victoria's small business commissioner has expanded powers to hear cases involving delivery drivers working for platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo. The business models of both companies and their treatment of contractors are facing increased scrutiny as the debate over the so-called gig economy intensifies. According to Nine, the commissioner will be able to review situations when a contractor has a dispute about payment, or has been terminated without adequate explanation. Here’s what people are saying. 

Australia’s school career advisers are “stuck in a time warp,” according to the academics behind a new study on reforming the transitioning from studying to work. Despite some “dramatic changes” in education practices, school students remain heavily isolated “from the idea of work,” the report claims. Rather than focusing – as they have for decades – on how students can attain a strong Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), advisers should instead analyse the labour market and inform students “where the gaps are.” Here's what people are saying.

Idea of the day: Investing in building the pipeline of future leaders starts young, UN Women’s Georgette Tan tells LinkedIn. Developing programs geared at STEM is a way to help school-age girls enter often male-dominated industries.

 “Investing in building the pipeline of future leaders starts young, UN Women’s Georgette Tan tells LinkedIn. Developing programs geared at STEM is a way to help school-age girls enter often male-dominated industries.

“Getting them to be comfortable in that space of STEM, understanding that they can be extremely good, as good as their male counterparts, perhaps even better, and that there’s a career path for them in the future.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.

— Andrew Murfett