New report sheds light on 'growing complexity crisis' facing employers in Australia
Less than half of Australian executives believe that the newly implemented right-to-disconnect legislation will deliver benefits to their organisations, according to a new survey from Dayforce.
Just 14% of respondents also believe it will improve employee retention and reduce turnover.
The survey, which polled 85 respondents from Australia and one from New Zealand, revealed that only 28% believe the legislation will improve work-life balance for employees.
According to the report, more than two-thirds of the respondents said the new right-to-disconnect legislation will have a significant impact on their operations.
The findings reflect the pessimism from businesses on the newly implemented law that has been strongly criticised by employer groups as "rushed, poorly thought out, and deeply confusing."
Meanwhile, the report also uncovered the "growing complexity crisis" that Australian employers are facing, according to Brian Donn, Managing Director, APJ at Dayforce, Inc.
"Fostering strong connections between an organisation and its people, as well as investing in efficiencies through strong processes and innovative technology, is critical," Donn said in a statement.
Managing compliance requirements has emerged as the top barrier for higher performance for 30% of organisations, the report found.
This is followed by labour laws and regulations, as cited by almost two-thirds of the respondents, and then by data privacy and security (26%).
Digital technologies and AI are also impacting industries in Australia, with 57% of the respondents saying they are the "most significant factors shaping the future of work," according to the report.
In terms of recruitment, half of the respondents said finding workers with the right skills and experience remains difficult, with 26% reporting general labour shortages.
Flexible work, which has become popular across workplaces, did not deliver any significant change for productivity for 52% of organisations. Only 36% of respondents reported a productivity increase, while seven per cent said it decreased.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) also continue to see support from Australian executives despite overseas scepticism on the principle.
In fact, 51% of the respondents said creating an inclusive culture was the DEI initiative that was most critical to organisational success. Other DEI initiatives considered to be crucial by employers include enhancing leadership diversity (22%) and addressing pay equity (15%).
