What do Aussies want from their employers in 2024?
When it comes to the relationship between employers and employees in 2024 there are several key aspects that employees are prioritizing when it comes to working and it is becoming important for long-term retention for employers and businesses to meet as many of the below as possible.
1. Work-life balance
2. Flexible work arrangement and location
3. Fair Workloads
4. Attractive Salary & Benefits
5. Career Progression and Upskilling
6. Equity and Inclusivity
7. Strong Leadership
8. Pleasant work environment
9. Mental Health and Well-being focus
I guess the big question is, what is involved in the above and are businesses meeting these requests?
Work-life balance- Many people are looking for the perfect balance between work and life and maintaining a harmonious relationship with both areas of life. Most employees are now seeking employers to be respectful of boundaries as well as offering adaptable and adjustable hours or schedules (noting Right to Disconnect) .
Flexible Work arrangements and locations- In 2024 it is outdated for workplaces to not offer flexible work arrangements and working locations; this includes the offering of work from home if desired or requested. This can come with conditions based on being with a company for a period of time i.e. commencing after probation etc. Flexible work remains a crucial factor for attracting and maintaining talent. We are mindful that flexible work arrangements are focused on office-based roles rather than any face-to-face roles such as retail, hospitality, trades etc.
Attractive salary and benefits- Most positions are competitively priced and businesses are continuously required to match increasing salaries to engage top talent. The cost of living and closing the gender pay gap are also considerations in remuneration packages. Salary packages inclusive of super, benefits etc are also outdated in 2024, employees want to know their exact take-home salary /hourly rate to determine if this is viable for their life expenses.
Career Progression and Upskilling- Opportunities to learn, grow, and evolve in a role are particularly important for many employees. Employees feel valued, seen and heard when employers invest in them, be this through time, energy or financially. Career progression is another way of ensuring long term retention of top talent.
Tip to employers- have individual conversations with your team, what do they want to learn more about and how can that be achieved?
Strong Leadership- Many employees are seeking leadership rather than management and it has been shown that there is a higher level of respect for strong leaders, while both leaders and managers are pivotal to a business doesn’t mean someone is exceptional at both roles. Employees look to leaders for a range of reasons such as innovation and tend to ask ‘what’ and ‘why’ rather than ‘how’ and ‘when’.
By addressing these areas, employers can meet the evolving expectations of Australian workers in 2024, fostering a more engaged, productive, and loyal workforce.
If you are struggling to find the right talent for your team or maybe your business is struggling with meeting the demands and requests from employers, we are here to help you.
Recruit Collective for all your recruitment and talent needs.
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Written by Renae Wooten, Recruitment Consultant.
June 2024
