The Australian finance sector successfully weathered the impact of the GFC, with most insurers, banks, credit unions and finance companies remaining strong, and our four biggest banks posting record profit each year since the financial tsunami of 2008. Shareholders have continued to reap the benefit of their investment, finance executives have continued to receive excessive remuneration, and finance sector workers have continued to be pressured to sell products to customers.

The pressure on finance workers to meet sales targets is unrelenting, unhealthy and unsustainable.

Where workers have joined together to campaign against unfair targets, at Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and St George Bank (link to relevant articles on website), adjustments have been made so that the pressure is slightly relieved. But where there is no campaign and no one speaking out or speaking up against these practices, workers are still under enormous pressure to deliver more sales. And if they don’t deliver, these workers are often “performance managed” out of their jobs.

Are you under pressure to meet sales targets? Are you being “performance managed” out of your job?

It’s not always easy to speak up, but as the old saying goes, nothing changes if good people say nothing. Have your say today.