What makes a workplace great?

Creating a thriving workplace requires time and effort. Those who are able to strike a balance between productivity and wellbeing can ensure that employees, customers, and stakeholders are all kept happy.

The criteria for what makes a workplace “great” was discussed in Australia’s 2023 Insights Report by Great Place To Work (GPTW).

According to the research, the top four factors that make a workplace great are:

1. Integrity in practice matters. Employees want leaders who walk the talk: The report shows when employees know that they can count on their leaders to be committed to high principled standards and will take consistent actions against these principles, it has a direct positive impact on their overall workplace experience.
2. Engaging employees and having purposeful connection counts: Australian employees surveyed showed they desire active participation in the decision-making process, seeking collaboration with management to influence organisational strategy and direction.
3. Nurturing wellbeing beyond being just an employee is important: As employees continue to navigate work and personal life issues during tough times, they are actively seeking leaders who demonstrate genuine empathy and understanding. Leaders from the best workplaces in Australia take a sincere interest in their people, showing empathy for their diverse professional and personal needs.
4. Fostering camaraderie and creating strong workplace relationships: The best workplace leaders put effort into creating environments where individuals collaborate and cooperate effectively and share family-like closeness to achieve workplace excellence. They don’t just preach camaraderie; they actively embody it, serving as role models and champions for collaboration.

“The report shows that in 2023, employees really value genuine engagement on an organisation’s strategy, purpose and management,” commented Roland Wee, board chair of GPTW ASEAN and ANZ.

“Employees also place a high value on integrity and leaders who walk the talk, which can have a profound positive impact on their workplace experience.”

Unsurprisingly, employers who understand the importance of wellbeing are better equipped to craft healthy workplaces. Creating a space where employees feel looked after can translate into business success, especially in the post-COVID era of work.

Neil Solomon, APAC and Latin America vice-president at UKG and global GPTW ambassador, highlighted the importance of getting this right: “While traditional markers of success like job stability and financial compensation remain important, employees now place greater emphasis on holistic wellbeing and a sense of purpose in their work.”

“The pandemic played a significant role in catalysing this transformation, underscoring the significance of work/life balance, flexible arrangements, and work that aligns with personal values and which contributes to a larger societal impact,” explained Mr Solomon.

“Facilitating flexibility for workers is not only a compassionate approach but also a strategic imperative that yields significant benefits. When employees have the freedom to balance their personal lives with work commitments, their overall wellbeing improves, leading to increased job satisfaction and reduced burnout.”

A major area that could use improvement across Aussie businesses, according to the report, is the experience of older workers. As many other minority groups and demographics are thankfully seeing increased consideration in the workplace, older Aussies are not getting the same level of attention to wellbeing, said GPTW.

“Australian companies have made great strides in providing a consistent workplace experience for different genders and minority groups like First Nations People, evidenced in the report. The challenge before us is how to best engage the fastest-growing demographic group of older workers,” said Mr Wee.

“The companies who are able to do this well are likely to be those who are best able to buck short-term challenges to create long-term business success.”

Older workers can be a great investment, as previously outlined by HR Leader. Looking after this vulnerable demographic can help to plug skills shortages, improve diversity, equity, and inclusion, and help businesses become great places to work.