Location and office environment the main reasons we come to work

A survey has found job location and office environments to be the most appreciated aspects of a workplace.

Flexible hours may be a priority for many, but a survey of more than 1000 workers has found location and office environments to be the most appreciated aspects of a workplace.

Online expenses management provider Webexpenses has found workers are driven by convenience rather than perks.

Australia Pacific general manager Ryan Corlett says 38 per cent of Australians identified office location as the top reason for loving their job. The survey also found 89 per cent said access to and using new technologies would make work more efficient.

Corlett warns employers to get ahead of the trend or risk losing staff.

“If the best thing Australian employees can say about their office is its location, employers should be reassessing how attractive their workplace actually is and look at what factors they can change to ensure other businesses in their geographic vicinity don’t steal their talent,” Corlett says.

“Convenience has become a major influencer in the career decision-making process. Any changes that could provide a more convenient work environment for employees should be considered.”

True grit a bonus

Employees with high levels of resilience are more productive, health and performance expert Global Corporate Challenge says.

In an international study of 1590 employees, a GCC Insights report found a direct link between “grit, wellbeing and productivity”.

Data scientist Olivia Sackett says employee resilience increases an average of 4.3 per cent when wellbeing improves and stress levels are down.

Chief medical officer David Batman says recognising the connection between resilience, wellbeing and productivity is valuable for business success.

“In a world that has changed dramatically since the financial crisis of 2008, where uncertainty, stress and sedentary lifestyles have become the norm, grit has never been more important to businesses,” Batman says. “Research shows it’s a strong predictor of success. That’s because a resilient person is better able to cope.”

Helping women

Women in Global Business has opened its mentorship program for winter, with applications due before June 30.

The program aims to help women who are already involved in exporting to engage in international business by facilitating relationships with mentors who successfully trade internationally.

Mentors will share knowledge and experiences on a voluntary basis and provide advice, share challenging experiences and successes.

Costs apply, with scholarships available in Western Australia.

More: mentoring@ wigb.gov.au.

Mobile recruiting

Employee engagement and communication company Reffind says companies should consider using mobile recruitment and referral applications because tech-savvy applicants are likelier to search via a device than scan job ads.

Chief operating officer Rob van Es says traditional recruitment methods are becoming irrelevant.

“Employees want a positive work experience,” van Es says. “They don’t enjoy lots of long emails, voicemails, training seminars or cumbersome engagement surveys, all of which too many organisations still rely on. Employees have become so used to getting information at a glance on their mobile devices.

“Companies need to get smarter at using this behavioural change to find and recruit job candidates.”