Australians feel 'growing disillusionment' at post-pandemic workplaces

Australian employees are experiencing "growing disillusionment" at work, resulting to feeling less connected and included in the workplace, according to a new report.

The 2023-2024 Inclusion@Work Index revealed that 19% of Australian employees didn't feel valued, respected, nor able to contribute and progress at work in 2023.

This marks a significant increase amid the rising trend of such experience among employees, which started at 11% in 2019, before growing to 12% in 2021.

Lisa Annese, chief executive officer of the Diversity Council Australia (DCA), attributed the case to employees still recovering from the shared trauma over the past few years.

"Employees are still processing the trauma and disruption of the past few years, fuelling growing disillusionment with traditional working arrangements," Annese said in a statement.

"With all this in mind, it is unsurprising that DCA's 2023-2024 Inclusion@Work Index finds workers less connected, valued, and included post-pandemic."

Worrying picture of workplace

The results of the index further paint a worrying picture for many workplaces, with cases of discrimination, harassment, and non-inclusive managers rebounding post-pandemic.

In 2023, 27% of the respondents said their managers do not seek out ideas from a diversity of staff, treat everyone fairly, or deal with inappropriate behaviour.

The percentage bounces back to levels higher in 2019 (21%), after they declined to 18% in 2021 during the pandemic.

This is also the case for discrimination and harassment instances at work, which rebounded to 30% in 2023.

The level has surpassed pre-pandemic figures at 26% and is eight percentage points higher from the 22% logged in 2021, according to the index.

Diversity, inclusion benefits

But a focus on diversity and inclusion (D&I) at work can be a solution to rebounding trends, according to the report. It found that D&I active organisations have employees that are more likely to feel:

• they belong to an inclusive team
• they have an inclusive manager
• their work has a positive impact on their mental health

Employees from D&I active organisations also reported better performance in terms of:

• providing excellent customer service
• being innovative
• working effectively together
• having willingness to work extra hard

"In a time of so much disruption and division, a focus on diversity and inclusion is more important than ever," Annese said.