Adopt the Six Step path to create workplace happiness

The Australian Best Places to Work, powered by WorkL, recognises the very best organisations in Australia.

Happy employees are the most productive, says WorkL, which powers the methodology behind The Australian Best Places to Work 2025

I’m often asked what the quickest and most effective ways to attract, engage, and retain the best talent. While salary and benefits are important, they are no longer the key drivers of job satisfaction. Employees increasingly seek meaningful work that they can take pride in, a culture where they feel included and valued and opportunities for professional and personal growth and therefore development. Employers who don’t prioritise these are at risk of losing their most valuable asset, their people, and in turn their profit.

Supporting employees’ career development is a fundamental necessity for businesses that wish to thrive. Research consistently shows that employees who feel supported in their career aspirations are more engaged, more productive, and more likely to remain loyal to their organisation. Those who perceive a lack of development opportunities are more inclined to look elsewhere, or as I call it, be a Flight Risk – leading to costly turnover and a loss of valuable institutional knowledge.

At WorkL, the platform I founded in 2017 after running Waitrose and then subsequently being British trade minister, our extensive research on employee happiness from more than 100,000 organisations highlights that a sense of progression and purpose is one of the key factors influencing job satisfaction.

Employees want to know that their hard work will lead to career advancement. They want to develop new skills, take on fresh challenges, and see a future within their current organisation. Without a structured approach to career development, many businesses inadvertently push talented employees out the door.

Scan the QR code to enter The Australian Best Places to Work 2025. Entries close 31 May

The Australian Best Places to Work, powered by WorkL, recognises the very best organisations in Australia.

The Best Places to Work in Australia score more than 12 per cent higher in career development than the average Australian organisation, and benefit from improved retention and productivity as a result.

So, what can employers do to create career growth to retain talent?

First, businesses must embed career development into their culture. This means going beyond annual performance reviews and instead implementing continuous conversations about career aspirations and growth opportunities. Employees should feel empowered to discuss their professional goals with their managers and receive guidance on how to achieve them.

Second, training and development programs must be robust and accessible.

Another crucial aspect is internal mobility. Too often, employees feel they must leave an organisation to progress in their careers. By creating clear pathways for promotion and facilitating lateral moves within the company, businesses can retain talent while allowing employees to broaden their skill sets.

Finally, recognition plays a significant role in retention. Employees who see their growth and contributions acknowledged are more likely to stay committed to an organisation. Celebrating achievements, whether through promotions, awards or simply a well-earned “Thank you” reinforces a culture of appreciation and encouragement.

I’d also like to touch on general ways that an employer can create happier employees by sharing my Six Steps to Workplace Happiness:

Reward and recognition

Every member of an organisation should benefit from its success. A fair salary is essential – no amount of praise can compensate for underpayment. The Australian Best Places to Work outperform the average Australian organisation by 11.3 per cent for reward and recognition.

Information sharing

Withholding information can make employees feel undervalued and disconnected from the business. For a team to perform at its best, transparency is essential. The Australian Best Places to Work outperform the average Australian organisation by 11.7 per cent for information sharing.

Empowerment

Empowering employees means involving them in decision-making, valuing their ideas, and integrating their feedback into the company’s strategies. Everyone brings unique experiences and perspectives
to the table; only by considering all views can a team achieve the best possible outcome. The Australian Best Places to Work outperforms the average Australian organisation by 11.2 per cent for empowerment.

Wellbeing

Employee wellbeing encompasses physical, emotional, and financial health. Addressing all three areas leads to improved engagement and productivity. The Australian Best Places to Work outperform the average Australian organisation by 14.6 per cent for wellbeing.

Instilling pride

Employees who take pride in their work and workplace naturally become advocates, sharing their positive experiences with colleagues, potential hires, customers, and the community. The Australian Best Places to Work outperform the average Australian organisation by 14.3 per cent for instilling pride.

Job satisfaction

A range of factors influence job satisfaction, but two stand out; opportunities for personal growth and the quality of the employee-manager relationship. Employees are an organisation’s greatest asset, and high engagement is essential for success. The Australian Best Places to Work outperform the average Australian organisation by 13.4 per cent for job satisfaction.

Businesses that prioritise professional career development create a more engaged, motivated and loyal workforce. In an age where competition for talent is fierce, investing in people’s futures is not just the right thing to do, it is business sense. Those who neglect career development will find themselves in a constant cycle of recruitment and training, struggling to retain the people who could drive their success. By creating a culture of learning and progression, employers can build a workplace where both the business and its people flourish together.

Lord Mark Price is the founder of WorkL and author of Happy Economics