The Algorithm Age

Since developing migraine four years ago, Hobart resident Claire Szymanski has had to stop working and regularly misses out on social events. "I'd never previously had migraine, woke up one morning with what I thought was this shocking headache and unfortunately four years on I have not had a day's break from it," Ms Szymanski said. "It's really been very up and down, there's been more hard times than anything." Ms Szymanski is one of an estimated 4.9 million Australians who live with migraine of varying frequency and severity. Another Tasmanian, David Gardiner, has experienced life-changing relief through medication but said living with the disorder had made him more accommodating of others who live with an invisible illness. Ms Szymanski said she was "in and out" of hospital when symptoms increased in intensity. She seeks temporary relief from the severe head pain and dizziness she lives wi...

Across the country, employee engagement is at all-time lows as people deal with labor market, socioeconomic and geopolitical instability. During this time, managers have been tasked with keeping people happy while balancing executive interests in productivity, office attendance and avoiding corporate activism. In the field of management consulting, where client demands and working hours can be grueling, companies like EY, PwC and Accenture are addressing these challenges by boosting their support for employees' well-being. All three firms were named to 's America's Greatest Workplaces list earlier this month. "Well-being is unique to every person. That's why, at EY, we take a holistic approach—prioritizing physical, mental, financial and social wellness," Kim McConnell, director of EY Assist, told via email, adding that personalized benefits plus focus on team building and measuring progress are keys to the company's strategy. Bur...