The secret sauce setting top organisations apart

At a time when many executives are losing the confidence of their teams and where workplace scandals and declining trust in leadership are common, how do some companies thrive?

Organisations in Australia have the chance to create environments defined by ethical leadership, transparency, and active engagement, by drawing on insights from global benchmarks – like those captured by Great Place To Work®. 

The Great Place To Work® Best Workplaces™️ in Australia list represents 144,502 Australian employees voices shows what is setting top organisations apart from the rest—ethical leadership, transparency, and active engagement.

So, how can Australian companies best understand these themes and why are they important?

Leader integrity: core of maintaining trust

For every generation, including the much-scrutinised Gen Z, leadership integrity is a critical factor in workplace satisfaction. Employees value actions over words—leaders who consistently embody company values make a lasting impact.

Ethical leadership fosters trust across the board. Great Place To Work data shows in the Best Workplaces, 96% of employees believe management is honest and ethical in business practices, compared to just 54% in typical Australian workplaces. This is a powerful reminder: integrity is not an abstract concept—it’s measurable and vital to building a thriving workplace culture.

Building trust is not solely about maintaining ethical practices it’s about how management engages with their teams. GPTW data reveals in the Best Workplaces employees feel heard, with 92% confirming management involves them in decisions that affect their jobs, compared to only 50% in typical workplaces.

By making collaboration a cornerstone of your organisation, you foster a workplace where employees feel valued and empowered, leading to better retention and engagement.

Innovation is often heralded as a key driver of success. However, opportunities for innovation have decreased in many workplaces. Yet, in Great Place To Work certified companies, innovation is thriving. This is largely due to a management approach that not only supports but recognises employee efforts and views mistakes as learning opportunities.

Survey results show in Best Workplaces, 94% of employees feel management recognises honest mistakes as part of doing business, compared to only 56% in typical workplaces.

Stability and trust in leadership

Perhaps one of the most important findings is the shift in employee priorities. With economic pressures increasing, employees are gravitating towards workplaces that provide stability and strong leadership. Camaraderie, while still important, has taken a backseat to security and trust in management.

At Best Workplaces, 91% of employees agree management delivers on its promises, significantly higher than the 47% seen in typical workplaces. Trust in leadership is not just a buzzword; it’s a practical strategy for retaining top talent and ensuring long-term organisational success.

For leaders, these findings provide a roadmap to creating a high-trust workplace culture. Integrity, open communication, support for innovation, and stable leadership are the cornerstones of the Best Workplaces in Australia. By prioritising these elements, organisations can build a work environment that not only attracts top talent but fosters long-term engagement and satisfaction.

To learn more read our fresh off the press 2024 Insights Report:

The Trust Factor: Insights from the Best Workplaces in Australia.