Corporate Australia attracts talent for plenty of reasons – security, money, structure, purpose, growth, status, achievement, connection, belonging.
There are many pathways to join and contribute to the corporate landscape in Australia. Employee, temp, independent contractor, consultant, freelancer, entrepreneur, influencer, business owner, portfolio career, one job, three jobs, full time, part time, casual – all very valid ways of working.
I’ve been part of Corporate Australia for over 20 years now, and I’ve always had a (physical) reaction when people treat ‘non-employees’ differently to employees.* I’m an inclusive person by nature, and when I hear the ‘one of us’ vs ‘one of them’ mentality being bandied around I feel a lot of feelings. Maybe it’s because I saw first-hand (and experienced myself) just how important and life-changing a temp role can be. Or how bold and brave independent contractors are. Or because I’ve seen incredible consultants deliver exceptional work for organisations that may have been lost without them.
As we move further into a future shaped by AI and rapid change, it becomes even clearer: it’s not about how you’re engaged – it’s about the impact you make. The value someone brings isn’t defined by their employment type, but by their contribution, ideas, and influence. The most powerful work in the future won’t be confined to traditional roles – it will be driven by diverse minds showing up in all kinds of ways.
So, what I’m trying to say – is I believe that we’re all in it together. It might be for the short term, or the long haul, it doesn’t matter. We’re all humans, logging in, rocking up, and (most of the time) trying our best. Let’s not treat anyone like a second-class citizen just because of who pays their salary. No matter why we work, or how we choose to work, when we’re working on something for an organisation, our efforts become a part of the successes and failures of that organisation – part of its story. Belonging is a fundamental human need – and if we can help each other see that we all belong, then we’re one step closer to improving the business world, and social landscape.
*Nod to my Workplace Relations friends on this point, there are absolutely differences in how we engage our employees and our contingent workers, but more on that next week!
