FIFTY-THREE per cent of Australian companies promote a more casual attitude on Fridays
FIFTY-THREE per cent of Australian companies promote a more casual attitude on Fridays. Nearly one quarter of 806 employees surveyed said they have a drink with their workmates on Friday nights, with nearly one fifth saying they take part in activities once in a while on Friday afternoons. Further, those most likely to take a casual attitude on Fridays were:
Blue collar workers 71%
HR professionals 67%
Sales/marketing executives 61%
The survey also found 59 per cent of CEOs support a more casual attitude on Fridays and regard the practice as promoting goodwill with employees.
Source: Talent2
Women pay the price for working part-time
PART-TIME workers in the UK receive 40 per cent less training than full-timers, according to an investigation into flexible working. Further, women working part-time earn 40 per cent less per hour than men working full-time (a percentage that has remained constant for 30 years) and women who have worked part-time for just one year earn 10 per cent less after 15 years’ working than those who have worked full-time for the whole 15 year period.
Source: UK Equal Opportunities Commission
More workers want to stay home
THIRTY-SIX per cent of Australian workers would like the flexibility of working from home and 34 per cent would enjoy the associated peace and quiet. Additionally, of 767 people surveyed, the most common methods of transportation to and from work include:
Other 15%
Driving 53%
Public transport 32%
Additionally, 65 per cent of male respondents and 72 per cent of female respondents claimed they would prefer to work at home two to three days a week and spend the remainder of the week in the office.
Source: LinkMe
Worrying impact of work on health
FORTY-SIX per cent of workers believe their current working practices were adversely affecting their health. A further 49 per cent of 300 workers surveyed did not have a good work/life balance, 62 per cent would not be prepared to take a lower rate of hourly pay in return for flexible or part-time working conditions and 85 per cent said that flexible employment arrangements would keep them working longer for an organisation.
Source: Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
Workplace bullying on the increase
FORTY-THREE per cent of employees have reported they have experienced some form of bullying from their current boss. A further 82 per cent of mid or junior level managers claim to be on the receiving end of constant criticism, 42 per cent of senior managers claim they are undermined by subversive behaviour while 63 per cent of HR professionals responsible for worker welfare regard bullying as a major problem in the workplace.
Source: LinkMe.com.au
The cost of keeping up with the Joneses
FORTY per cent of employees say the single thing that most disturbs their work/life balance is doing work needed to uphold their position, but not strictly required. A survey of 807 people found 39 per cent regarded having to do unpaid but required work as the biggest waste of their personal time, while females are more likely to have to complete work in unpaid time than their male counterparts but males are more likely to do work not strictly required but needed to maintain their position in the office.
Source: Talent2
Technology skills shortage threatens companies
FORTY-EIGHT per cent of technology executives believe the biggest potential risk in recruiting talent they face is competition from well-established companies. A study of 126 technology executives in 34 countries found this was followed by attracting employees and expertise at 42 per cent, while executives say they must remain flexible in their strategies, business models and cultures in order to keep pace and prosper.
Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers
Admin staff holding their head high
SIXTY THREE per cent of administration employees believe they are (or are perceived to be) equal to other employees in different roles in their organisation. The rising status of admin employees has been associated with increased levels of responsibility given to admin staff and involvement in company life. Titles of administration employees include:
Admin coordinator 40%
Personal assistant 14%
Secretary 8%
In general admin workers have moved away from the standard stereotype associated with their field of work and towards that of an admin professional.
Source: OfficeTeam
Talent management practices fail to deliver
EIGHTY per cent of Australian HR and business professionals consider talent management to be either very important or critical for their organisation. But only 18 per cent of 248 people surveyed said they were satisfied with their companies’ talent management strategy. Just one per cent were very satisfied. Furthermore, although almost one quarter of participants said their organisations measured employee performance quite well or very well, only nine per cent believed they assess potential as effectively.
Source: SHL Australia
Coaching offers leadership development
MORE THAN twice as many organisations that provide coaching to employees regard leadership development goals as the primary coaching objective, according to a survey of 328 organisations. Sixty-three per cent chose the development of leaders as the main reason for providing coaching, compared with 25 per cent that chose a desire to change poor management behaviours. Additional reasons for providing coaching were to:
Sharpen the skills of high-potential individuals 38%
Correct management behaviour problems 15%
Invest in leader development and retention 14%
Source: Right Management Consultants
