According to the latest Ipsos report, What Australia Thinks, Feels and Does at Work, seven in 10 Australians (72%) are proud to work for their organisation – five points above the global average. Nearly a quarter (23%) said they would stay working for their employer for the next three to five years.
65% of Australians in leadership roles felt their employers welcomed honest feedback, and 67% said they would recommend their employer as a great place to work.
However, the findings also revealed nearly a third (28%) said they had a negative workplace culture, describing their workplace as hierarchical, controlling, and bureaucratic, with a track record for long hours.
For those planning to leave in less than 12 months, Ipsos found nearly half (46%) put the decision down to pay/benefits, but 38% said it was because they didn’t feel appreciated or recognised.
When considering a new role, 63% said the most important factor was the pay/benefits package, while 44% said they considered flexible working opportunities important.
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Wendy McInnes, Ipsos Australia employee experience director, said: “Australian workplaces have significantly shifted their priorities post-pandemic, in an attempt to retain their workforce.
“The worker of 2024 is committed to achieving a work/life balance and is looking for an employer who understands and supports this balance. Organisations that continue to drive positive workplace culture from the top down will be most successful in 2024 in both attracting new staff and retaining talent.
“As the cost-of-living crisis continues, workplaces will need to review their pay/benefits packages to remain competitive, as Australians seek out roles with higher salaries to offset their rising mortgage and other financial costs.
“Additionally, flexible working arrangements continue to be a key employment driver and remain a critical part of overall workplace operations.”
Ghassan Karian, chief executive officer of Ipsos Karian and Box, Ipsos’s specialist in employee culture and engagement, added: “This study highlights the need by Australian employers to tackle young or new starter attrition, and the associated costs.
“There is also a need to deepen the experience of an open, trusting and listening culture – all of which are factors critical to driving workforce engagement and performance.”
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