WorkChoices: family stress, lower pay

Research from the University of South Australia suggests that the Federal Government's workplace reforms have caused stress and financial loss for SA families.

The study of 20 families has found that WorkChoices brought them pay cuts, less job security and less predictable working hours.

Professor Barbara Pocock says the Federal Government should follow up with a more extensive study on the wider effects of WorkChoices.

She says the initial results contradict Government claims that WorkChoices delivers more flexibility for employees.

"People feel less confident in negotiating with their employer not only about their pay but their working hours and about their security at work," she said.

"So it's having quite a significant effect and it's across the labour market, not just those on lower incomes. It's a wider effect than that."

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