In 2014 Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced a “hiring freeze” to achieve his objective of cutting “red tape”. We are so used to hearing this sort of announcement that it seems even journalists do not question the thinking behind it.
The government go-to position of a “staffing freeze” is a very simple strategy of not replacing people as they leave, either through resignation, retirement or when their contracts expire. There is no consideration given for how critical the work being done is; it is just a blanket assumption that no matter what a person is employed to do, when they leave, someone else can absorb it. Or perhaps it just doesn’t get done anymore. Read More