There are many issues in the contemporary Australian workplace that are of great importance.

These include recruitment and selection, training and development, and equal employment initiatives. Many of these are clearly discussed in a variety newspaper articles from differing sources all addressing issues concerning the workplace. In addition, the issues presented will be analysed in order to outline the relationship between the sociological theories such as functional, conflict, symbolic interactionist perspective and globalisation, and the issues discussed in the newspaper articles.

Recruitment and selection is an important issue within the workplace. It is the starting point for individuals who are seeking work within a particular industry. Recruitment and selection is clearly discussed in an article published by the Herald Sun , Victoria police looks interstate to recruit new officers(Dowsley, 2012). The article focuses on the policing industry and the shortage the Victorian police suffer from. In an attempt to increase the number of Victorian police, an interstate deal has been suggested. This took place after NSW Police has had an overflow of applicants (Dowsey,2012) willing to work for the police department. Victorian police are willing to employ applicants from differing backgrounds and experience levels within Australia (Dowsey,2012)

As viewed in the previous article, industries that are similar can come together in order to assist society for more effective and productive functionality. The concept of functionality is seen in sociology, which is defined by Van Kreiken(2006) as a discipline that assists in our understanding of the world around us and how it is changing. Under the functionalist perspective the NSW Police is responding to the needs of the Victorian Police. In this type of environment where working together is encouraged there is a larger focus on sustainability

within the environment (Van Kreiken,2006). For example in creating the Police structure the government is assisting society majorly in providing social order for the many social expectations on a day-to-day basis.

On the other hand the conflict theory as seen through Karl Marx (Bartos, 2002) will always exist so long as economic differences within society are prevalent. The conflict perspective is seen in societies characterized by social inequality (Van Kreiken,2006). Most of these inequalities are often occurring within differences in authoritarian status or economic status. According to C Wright Mills(1958) higher status within the political spectrum often allows for the accomplishment of decisions successfully. In contrast individuals in society who suffer from economic instability are often disregarded and thus unable to become effective members of society.

Furthermore this is visible in a newspaper article titled Woolies compact to offer 2500 jobs(Benson 2012). In a joint agreement between Woolworths and the Gillard government , Woolworths will act as a major employer to over 10000 applicants in the years to come(Benson 2012). As an initiative by the government to achieve equal employment opportunities Skills Connect, indigenous employment programs, pre-apprenticeship programs and access to apprenticeship incentives, as well as Wage Connect(Benson 2012) will all be integrated in the program.

In addition the conflict theory can be seen through the newspaper case above. Power plays a major role in the initiative between the company and the government. The inequality can be seen as non-existent in this case. Further analysis shows that these individuals who remained unemployed waited upon a grant or incentives by the government and major corporations to become employed. Without this employment opportunity individuals can have a lower social status as they are unable to integrate into a society where employment is expected for survival on a social and economic level(Grint,2005).

While both functionalist and conflict based perspectives focus on issues on a macro level symbolic interactionist perspective deal with issues on a micro level. Symbolic interactionist perspective is seen as an examination of everyday interactions in small groups rather than large-scale social structures (Van Kreiken,2006). This can be seen through an individuals reaction to various gestures or symbols based on the importance this may carry(Clegg,1980). Interaction amongst people in groups may differ from one person to the next and thus what may be a friendly gesture to one may be the opposite to another.

Another major issue in the contemporary Australian workplace is that of training and development. Training is of concern to many employees as in a globalizing society competition for the better skills remains a priority. In the newspaper article Skills grant to help lawyers raise the bar(Butcher 2012), lawyers are given the opportunity to undergo a training program that allows them to hone their abilities. The opportunity provided lawyers with $38,000 grant for the Victorian Bar and the Criminal Bar Association's 1900-odd members for a skills training course. The aim of the training program is to improve the professional standards of the current lawyers in the system.

Further enhancing skills through formal and informal training only better prepares employees for an ever growing, capitalizing and globalizing society. With globalization becoming a major reality for all major industries this major societal shift not only affects industries and major corporations but also effects individuals on a micro level in relation to interaction amongst each other. Increased skills training allows for the lawyers in this case to become more aware of the issues that are presented globally.

In conclusion there are many issues and developments that can be seen through various workplace behaviors. These issues are highly important in creating a more efficient and productive workplace for current and prospective employees. With constant development both within Australia and globally there is always a need to increase capabilities while competing with existing and emerging industries. There is a clear relationship between many of the articles presented and the various sociological perspectives. Differing and conflicting perspectives seen throughout the paper are relevant to issues that face workplace behavior today.

Reference list

Bartos,O 2002, Using conflict theory, Cambridge University Press, London Benson, S 2012, Woolies compact to offer 2500 jobs, The Daily Telegraph, April 1, p.23 Butcher,S 2012,Skills grant to help lawyers raise the bar, The Age, March 22, p.13

Clegg, S., & Dunkerley, D. (1980) Organization, Class and Control, Routledge, London Dowsely, A 2012, Victoria Police looks interstate to recruit new officers, Herald Sun, March 29, p.9.

Mills,W 1958, The structure of power in American society, The British Journal of Sociology, vol.9,no.1 pp29-41< http://www.csub.edu/~akebede/SOC502Mills2.pdf> Grint, K. (2005) The Sociology of Work 3rd Ed, Polity Press, Malden, Mass. Van Kreiken , Habibis, Smith, Hutchins, Haralambos & Holborn (2006) Sociology Themes and Perspectives 3rd ed, Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest