Underpaid, overworked and sick of it: Burnt out Aussies set to change jobs

By Cameron Micallef

May 24 2021
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With the economy continuing to show signs of life and the unemployment rate continuing to fall, burnt out Aussies are now increasingly looking for new opportunities, a new report has revealed.

A study released by Robert Half showed that Australian workers feel underpaid, overworked and are more likely to change their jobs as a consequence of it.

Officially, more Australians are in work than ever, with Australia’s unemployment rate falling to 5.5 per cent over the last month, as over 13 million Australians are now officially active in the workforce.

As employment continues to improve, a study by Robert Half showed that 82 per cent of business leaders are now worried about keeping their staff.

Such is the concern that 70 per cent of businesses are now planning on increasing salaries for existing staff by as much as 6 per cent, while 64 per cent of businesses are introducing new non-financial benefits to compensate staff.

Not only will businesses pay more for staff, the report showed that 85 per cent of them will now consider hiring contractors to cover staff shortages should their full-time employees decide to go on leave.

“Annual leave is an important part of employee satisfaction, which can benefit the workplace by improving morale, productivity, retention and reducing unplanned absences,” said Nicole Gorton, director Australia, in announcing Robert Half’s latest survey results.

On the other side, staff members are increasingly feeling burnt out as are were overworked and underpaid supporting businesses throughout the pandemic.

The report noted that a healthy work/life balance is cited by many as one of the most valuable aspects of an organisational culture among employees who are consistently happy in their jobs.

“Preventing employee burnout is an organisational issue, so businesses should recognise their team’s contributions and the importance of work/life balance,” Ms Gorton said.

“Managers will need to focus on developing an organisational culture that supports leave, or risk losing their top talent – to a burnout or another opportunity.”

In order to help retain key staff, Ms Gorton highlights four key tips to help staff managers prevent their staff from burning out:

Support work/life balance – To help employees juggle personal and professional responsibilities, offer alternative working arrangements such as telecommuting or flexi time.
Model the example for managing stress – Employees will see that you take your commitment to work/life balance seriously if you manage your own time effectively. Avoiding working late, taking annual leave, and not sending late-night or weekend emails can help set the right example.
Set priorities – Help your team focus on critical business tasks and consider bringing in contractors to assist where necessary.
Share resources – Communicate on a regular basis, promote company wellness offerings, and encourage participation in free classes and programs that support healthier lifestyles.

About the author

Cameron Micallef

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

About the author

Cameron Micallef

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

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