Young people have very little power in the workplace, Paula McDonald says. A new report has found many young workers have been unfairly sacked for being sick, complaining about harassment or accusations of theft. Queensland University of Technology researcher Paula McDonald looked at more than 1,000 complaints made by young people who had lost their jobs.About 20 per cent said they were forced to leave because of bullying or sexual harassment, and a similar amount because they fell ill or got injured. In many cases the dismissals were unlawful.

The study was based on figures before WorkChoices came into effect, but Dr McDonald expects things would now be worse. “It shifts more power away from employees towards employers, and when we’re talking about young people, they have very little power in the first place,” she said.

She says young workers are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to be working in unstable positions and not know their rights.

Related News: Young workers often fired for being sick at http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2007/09/14/young_workers_often_fired_for_being_sick/2817/