COMPANIES NEED to have better corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs in place if they want to attract and engage quality staff, a global report has found.
In addition to demonstrated high levels of corporate social responsibility, Australian companies must also offer employees good career and development opportunities to retain and engage staff.
“Employee retention is most strongly influenced by the behaviour of the organisation and its senior leaders as well as the learning and career development opportunities available for employees,” said Hamish Deery, managing principal Asia Pacific, Towers Perrin-ISR, which conducted the report.
“This includes concern for employees’ wellbeing as well as a concern for the environment.”
Australians also want to be involved more so than employees globally, Deery added. “The ability an employee has to contribute meaningfully to their organisation is a high priority – much more so when compared to the results on a global scale,” he said.
The survey, which took in nearly 94,000 workers in mid and large-sized organisations across 21 countries, including about 1568 Australian employees, found Australian employees were largely more engaged than their peers overseas and were generally more satisfied with their organisational leadership, organisation’s image and reputation, support, training and development opportunities and the ability to contribute meaningfully to their company.
As such, Australian companies on the whole were employing the right methods to engage and retain employees, according to Deery.
“In this current tight labour market, companies that do not engage and empower employees through a range of initiatives such as providing adequate training or personal and career development opportunities, are going to end up struggling to keep quality employees,” he said.
However, the report revealed a disconcerting trend and red flag for the future – unhealthy engagement. “Unhealthy engagement represents a growing and concerning pattern in organisations in Australia who drive for high engagement at all costs,” he said.
