A positive workplace culture is integral to a company’s ability to attract and retain talented employees, particularly in a competitive skills-short market. Independent research by specialised recruiter Robert Half reveals 71% of Australian workers consider workplace environment to be one of the most important non-remunerative aspects when considering a new job, alongside flexibility (77%) and commute time (55%).
Aside from attracting top talent, workplace culture is also a key factor when it comes to staff retention. Amongst those who would consider quitting their current job without having a new job secured, more than half (52%) would do so due to not liking their work environment. In particular, not liking the work environment would be a key driver for females (60%) and workers aged 55 and over (64%) to consider leaving their current role.
Workplace culture improvements focus on communication, skills development and company values
A separate survey of Australian business leaders reveals that 57% of Australian managers consider talent management (staff acquisition, retention, and professional development) to be their top strategic priority for the year ahead while the overwhelming majority (97%) are actively pursuing workplace culture improvements in the first half of 2020.
Maintaining an attractive workplace culture requires paying continued attention to employee needs and organisational structures, however, survey results demonstrate that there is no single perfect tactic to achieve this. Rather, respondents identified three key focus areas to improve workplace culture in 2020: encouraging team communication, skills development initiatives and establishing corporate values – all with the aim of fostering new ideas, driving innovation and increasing productivity.
What do these findings by Robert Half mean for companies?
“At a time when many companies are competing for a limited pool of skilled professionals, a positive workplace culture is more than just a ‘nice-to-have’, it’s increasingly viewed as essential by managers and employees alike,” says Nicole Gorton, Director of Robert Half Australia.
“Not only will a positive working culture help attract and retain the best talent, it can help to solidify a team’s motivation and loyalty, resulting in increased productivity, an attractive employer brand and a harmonious, sought-after working environment.”
“Digitisation is impacting the very core of organisational culture. As more companies embrace the flexible working arrangements that new technologies allow, a recalibration of internal communication protocols may be required to encourage seamless lines of communication between remote teams.”
“At the same time, the rate of digital transformation is rapidly changing internal operations and the skills an organisation values. To ensure a positive, cohesive transition into a digitised future, companies need to proactively invest in the training and development of workforces to tackle emerging skills gaps and create an alignment between the existing workforce and new technologies,” Gorton concludes.
