No objections to this piece of the Budget

There is few slices of light in the budget, I admit, with the workers, the unemployed, the disabled, the families, the sick and the high income earners all copping a flogging. But tonight, I did crack a smile when I saw the Government’s promise to bring in support for older workers that have been on benefits for more than six months. Good on em! At least they got one little piece of the puzzle right.

They’ve pledged a $10,000 per person plan called Restart that will support employers to hire a person over 50 who has been on benefits for more than 6 months.

“There needs to be a change in the culture of many businesses towards older workers,” said Joe Hockey

“We will help change that culture by providing a payment of up to $10,000 to a business that employs an Australian over the age of 50 who has been on unemployment benefits or the Disability Support Pension for six months.

Employers can use these funds to assist employees to reskill and play a more active role in the workforce,” he said.

The $10,000 is possibly enough to tempt an employer to look at hiring a more mature worker over a youngster, especially if they didn’t mind either way.  And the benefits to the employer, even though they might not know it yet include potentially getting someone who is likely more grateful for their job, more keen to do their job and more excited about getting a job, we think anyway.

The Treasurer said on Tuesday night “Every generation before us has contributed to the quality of life that we enjoy today.”

And whilst older workers will get support, Jobseekers under 30 on Youth Allowance or Newstart will be forced to work for the dole.  Humbling hey, to see the Government taking a step for the older generation.

You know what they say… “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.  Could this be a first step to supporting older workers more vigourously in the workforce?

The government has come out and said that their Restart program could provide support to about 32,000 job seekers over 50 each year.  It will provide employers with a series of payments if they hire older workers for two years.

Under the proposed scheme employers will receive $3000 for first six months and a further $3000 for the full year.

Then they will receive another $2000 if the worker is still employed after 18 months and a final $2000 after two years.

Do you know someone over 50 who has been unemployed for 6 months and who has been on benefits, that might like to get back into the workforce?   Tell us today if you think this will work?