What makes an organisation a top employer in Australia?
Organisations across Australia have carried out a string of measures to advocate for the wellbeing of their employees in 2024, including implementing generous bonus systems and introducing flexible arrangements, among others.
These efforts have not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, HRD Australia rolled out a list of Best Companies to Work For to recognise the organisations that moved the needle for their employees.
Included in the list of five-star employers is Accolade Wines, which has a range of perks that include, but are not limited to, flexibility.
The organisation has a "Fast Fridays" policy that allows employees to finish work at 3 PM and end their work week early. It also has benefits such as working from home three days a week and a global office policy to work overseas.
Additionally, Accolade Wines has an "array of bonus systems," where employees can award a voucher of up to $150 to an outstanding employee.
It also has a quarterly Star Awards where nominated staff receive $500, as well as a manager-nominated bonus system at the end of each year where winners get $5,000.
In addition to these rewards and benefits, Accolade Wines is also recognised for its measures to support women at work.
The firm, which has a relatively low gender pay gap of 0.9% and a diverse executive and senior leadership team, has a menopause guide available for employees.
"We certainly support our people at that stage of life when they're having babies, so it just felt like we needed to think about this space as well, when people are getting to another point where it can be particularly challenging so they can have the right conversations with their leader and get the support they need," said Anjanette Murfet, chief people and communications officer at Accolade Wines, in a statement.
Another organisation that made it to Australia's five-star employers is Edwards Lifesciences, which has been recognised for its culture of support.
In January, the organisation added three new employee relation groups, namely Rainbow Alliance, Enable, and Multicultural.
These groups advocate for different groups in Australia, such as the LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and people from different ethnicities and backgrounds, by raising awareness and boosting understanding.
Samantha Alkin, the company's director of human resources, said their culture is supporting employees and the organisation.
"We've had so many instances where people have personal things going on and need to take a few weeks off or a couple of months off to deal with it, and that's fine," Alkin said. "We find a way of covering for them and supporting what needs to happen from a business perspective. They talk to their manager and then we move forward."
The organisation also invests strongly in the development of its employees. It has a six-week leadership programme where staff can discover leadership motivations and learn about managerial responsibilities.
"Once they go through that, if they're still interested in management, then they've got an outline and understand our career framework as well," Alkin said. "It enables them to really identify the areas they need to be working on to get ready for that leadership position when it becomes available."
Read more about the organisations that made it to Best Companies to Work for in Australia by clicking this link.
