Workplace happiness key to retaining staff amid the ‘Great Resignation’

New research conducted by Southern Cross Health Insurance has uncovered what Kiwi businesses can do to avoid the implications of the ‘Great Resignation’ which is taking place overseas.

Thursday, February 24th 2022, 9:03AM

Across the world large waves of workers have been changing jobs, following the ongoing impacts of the pandemic. The health insurer says it wanted to gauge the sentiment of the workforce locally, and to find out what aspects of people’s jobs make them happier in their employment.

Survey participants across a wide range of sectors were asked to share the best things about their job, as well as indicate their job satisfaction, including how those feelings might have changed since Covid-19 reached New Zealand’s shores.

Nearly half of those surveyed (46%) said they feel grateful to have their job, with this figure slightly higher for female respondents (49%) compared to men (41 per cent).

Workers in the education, training (63%) and healthcare and social assistance (49%) sectors topped the list. However, just over a third of those surveyed said they enjoy going to work most days (35 percent). This increased significantly for those working in education and training (55 percent) while people employed in manufacturing ranked lowest out of all industries (24%). Twice as many men (15%) than women (7%) said they already had their dream job.

The company said it wanted to use these research insights to further support businesses, helping them to build an engaged and motivated workforce. It is also hoped that the findings of this research will be valuable to financial advisers who are working with corporates looking for advice on how to build a holistic workplace wellbeing programme.

When it came to what New Zealanders said was the best thing about their job, factors that created a more supportive work culture ranked above aspects like pay and flexibility.

Just over a third of respondents (34%) said a supportive employer or team was the best part of their job, while 30% also noted their work colleagues feel like friends or family.

Again, these sentiments skewed higher for female workers, with 38 percent of women valuing a supportive environment compared to 26% of men.

Southern Cross Health Insurance chief executive, Nick Astwick, said the survey provided valuable insights into what New Zealand businesses are doing right when it comes to employee satisfaction, but it also shows the challenges that lie ahead.

“There’s been many reports of a significant wave of people overseas reassessing their jobs in the face of the ongoing effects of the pandemic, and New Zealand businesses had an opportunity to prioritise how to prevent the same from happening here.”

“Feedback from those businesses also shows the workplace wellness benefits provided to employees can make them feel valued – and people who feel recognized and supported at work are more inclined to support and show loyalty to their employers in turn, and as they continue to drive the New Zealand economy forward during these uncertain times."

Tags: Southern Cross