Australian employees want better grooming for success

Only 42 per cent of Australian employees believe their employer has prepared them for future success

Australia’s employers have received a mixed report card, with only 42% of all survey respondents saying that their bosses have done a good job in preparing them for future success. 

Asked to rate their bosses, Australia’s employees have delivered a pass mark for their performance, with an average score of 6.5 out of 10.

Only 42% of respondents say that their bosses have done a good job in preparing them for future success, 40% say they have not been well-prepared, and 18% are uncertain.

The findings are part of the Kelly Global Workforce Index, which obtained the views of approximately 97,000 people in 30 countries, including 4,334 in Australia.

57% of respondents would be willing to recommend their current employer to a friend or acquaintance.

Karen Colfer, managing director, Kelly Services Australia, said, “Employees’ views of an organisation carry a lot of credibility and send a clear signal about how people are managed and the best places to work. They have a significant impact on the ability of a business to attract and retain talent.”

Results of the survey in Australia show:

• Both Gen Y (aged 18-29) and Gen X (aged 30-47) agree that Gen X make the best leaders with 46% of Gen X and 41% of Gen Y choosing Gen X as the best leaders. Baby boomers (aged 48-65) strongly believe that their own generation are the superior business managers with 54 per cent of baby boomer respondents choosing baby boomers as the best leaders.
  
  
• The most important quality in a good boss is communication style, nominated by 28 per cent, ahead of leadership style at 23% and vision and clear direction at 20%.
  
  
• 39% of respondents describe their organisation’s leadership culture as either “empowering” or “inclusive”. 34% describe it as “authoritative” or “oppressive”.
  
  
• 48% say that their efforts at work are recognised and rewarded.
  
  
• Among those respondents who say they feel rewarded and recognised for their work 69%say this takes the form of being “noticed by management”, while 15% receive bonuses or incentives, and 12% are acknowledged through formal programs.
  

Colfer said, “Employers are under intense scrutiny from a range of stakeholders, and employees are increasingly making judgements about their effectiveness, and how they rate as desirable places to work.

“Employers need to be aware of this scrutiny and ensure that career development is a priority and that hard work does not go unnoticed.”

For more information about these survey results and other key global findings, please visit the Kelly Global Workforce Index.  

Access the full report "Effective Employers - The Evolving Workforce" here.