🦘 2025 Rate Cut Predictions by Oxford Economics, Amazon Calls All Employees Back to Office, $17.8 Billion in Unclaimed Superannuation

G’day everyone!

If the name ‘Outback Briefs’ sounds familiar but you can’t quite remember why, it’s probably because I seem to have chucked a week-long sickie last week!

Avid Outback Briefs readers will remember that exactly 3 weeks ago, there was a story about Aussie workers feeling the effects of burnout…

I guess that story was also talking about me!

As much as I’ve loved writing Outback Briefs for the last 7 months, the daily grind seems to have caught up to me.

So I’m going to be making an adjustment…

From next week onwards, Outback Briefs will be delivered on a weekly basis. But…

I want to make the newsletter even better. And that’s where I need your help!

To make sure I can make Outback Briefs the most value-packed newsletter for you all, I’d love to hear your feedback on how to improve the newsletter.

It’s only 5 questions, and you’ll automatically become my favourite subscriber if you fill it out!

Thank you for filling that out, it’ll help me make this newsletter as valuable as I can for all of you.

Anyways, let’s get into it!

Here’s what we’ve got in store for you today:

• 2025 Rate Cut Predictions by Oxford Economics

• Amazon Calls All Employees Back to Office

• $17.8 Billion in Unclaimed Superannuation

Let’s have a look at the market snapshot before jumping into the news:

Interest Rate Relief: Not Until 2025, Says Oxford Economics!

Buckle up, Aussie homeowners!

It looks like relief from the interest rate rollercoaster is still a long way off.

Oxford Economics has thrown in the towel, predicting that rate cuts won't hit us until the second quarter of 2025.

While Commonwealth Bank and others hoped for a late 2024 cut, this forecast adds more pressure to those already feeling the pinch.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been battling inflation, pushing rates up from a mere 0.1% to a staggering 4.35% over the last couple of years.

Now, with monthly repayments reaching about $3,105 for a $500,000 mortgage, many are wondering how to keep up. 

Even with savings in the bank, some families are dipping into their funds just to survive rising costs.

So, keep your chin up and brace for the next couple of years because the interest rate saga isn’t ending just yet!

Amazon Says ‘Back to the Office!’ But Australia’s Flexibility Debate Rages On

Amazon has stirred the pot by announcing all desk-based workers must return to the office full-time starting January 2025. 

This move tosses the ball back into the court of workplace flexibility, leaving many wondering if the work-from-home era is over.

While Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy argues that in-person work boosts learning and teamwork, others like Atlassian are saying, “No way!” and allowing their staff to work from home permanently.

In Australia, around 37% of workers were clocking in from home in 2023.

Yet, some big names like Commonwealth Bank are scaling back remote work policies.

Chris Ellison from Mineral Resources even declared he would prefer to “hold employees captive” at work!

As the discussion heats up, it’s clear businesses are still figuring out how to balance productivity and employee satisfaction.

It’s a classic tug-of-war - stay tuned!  

Don't Leave Your Cash Behind: ATO Wants You to Find $17.8 Billion in Lost Super!

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is calling on Aussies to hunt down what's rightfully theirs - an eye-popping $17.8 billion in lost and unclaimed superannuation!

If you've had any major life changes like a name change, moving, or switching jobs, you might have lost track of your super.

It's like that long-lost sock you can never seem to find!

When your super fund loses touch with you, it becomes "lost super." If it sits idle long enough, it could turn into "unclaimed super," which gets sent straight to the ATO.

With the ATO having reunited nearly $6.4 billion since 2021, there’s still a mountain of missing money just waiting to be discovered.

To check if you’re owed any of this cash, hop online or contact your super fund directly.

Remember: your super is crucial for retirement, so don’t miss out!

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You Made It!

If you’ve read all the way up to here, we just wanted to let you know that you’re an absolute legend!

Time to go to work and show off how clued up you are about what’s going on in the business world 💪

Keep an eye out for tomorrow's newsletter. Until then, we’d love to get your feedback below!