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Aussie workers exceed expectations – but can it last?
Australian workers have adapted to changing working conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of bosses saying workers exceeded expectations.
Aussie workers exceed expectations – but can it last?
Australian workers have adapted to changing working conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of bosses saying workers exceeded expectations.
Survey data released by Robert Half showed that one in two businesses believe their employees exceeded expectations, while a further 63 per cent say productivity and collaboration improved.
According to Robert Half, four in 10 managers also say their company was able to successfully maintain customer service levels despite employees facing new working conditions.
“Necessity is the mother of invention, and the extraordinary transformation of Australian businesses – from in-office to remote, from retail to e-commerce, from sales to customer support – is a testament to Australian employees who rose to the challenge and not only adapted but embraced change and digital transformation to navigate businesses through immense uncertainty,” Nicole Gorton, director at Robert Half Australia, said.
The report also showed that despite rising to the challenge, Australian workers faced several issues, with many needing to be retrained in digital technologies to continue operating from home.
“Employees also shouldered a lot of the weight of this transformation, including longer hours, fulfilling workloads of furloughed employees, blurring the lines of work and home – all with limited opportunities for travel and relaxation in between,” she continued.
However, top-performing Aussies who have helped businesses throughout the pandemic are likely to test their value.
The survey results suggest employee performance rose to the occasion of challenging circumstances, with 82 per cent of business leaders concerned about retaining top employees in the coming year.
In order to help with retention of staff, Robert Half suggests businesses to invest in workplace culture initiatives that will continue to motivate willing workers.
“Firstly, as employees become increasingly empowered by new digital tools, businesses should further develop the capabilities of their (semi-)remote workforces to aid collaboration and innovation at home as readily as in the office.”
“Secondly, businesses must support their team to develop the hybrid skills necessary to succeed in the post-pandemic marketplace. Alongside technical capabilities relevant to the role, transferable skills like adaptability, versatile communication skills, and empathy and emotional intelligence when working with remote and in-office teams are in high demand and will continue to contribute to an engaged and productive workforce,” Ms Gorton concludes.
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