Australian businesses are not investing enough in their employees
- Written by Chris Tzalabiras, HR and IT training specialist at Koenig Solutions
Global research shows that only a third (34%) of workers are happy with their organisation’s investment in their professional development. Yet, three-quarters (74%) of workers believe the development of worker skills and capabilities is an important element in the organisation’s overall strategy1.
Feeling undervalued and underappreciated is something everyone can relate to. But when that happens in the workplace, productivity and mental health can be negatively affected the most. One of the top three reasons for Australian employees to feel demotivated at work is feeling invisible or undervalued (43%)2.
The consequences of unmotivated workers can lead to a reduction in productivity levels (49%), a decline in mental health (48%) and a reduction in quality of work (39%)2. Behaviours that no business needs within their ranks.
The factor of a global pandemic is also at play, as a third (34%) of Australians are having trouble staying motivated whilst working from home3. Yet another hurdle for employers to make their staff engaged in the workplace.
Chris Tzalabiras, HR and IT training specialist at Koenig Solutions, has dealt with both sides of the coin, working with employers and employees alike. He has found that investing in current staff is the best way to boast morale and skillsets within the company.
“In these uncertain times, it costs businesses significantly more to recruit new staff members than to invest in upskilling them. There couldn’t be a better time to upskill, as people are working from home with less office distractions. Costs and timing aside, upskilling allows employees to feel more valued within the organisation,” says Chris.
“If staff sense that they will be appreciated more elsewhere, they are less likely to show loyalty to their current workplace and entertain other opportunities.”
Excellence Property saw the value in investing in their staff’s professional development and was rewarded with appreciative feedback from team members.
“Our director paid for me to take part in a training course. Being invested in by my boss made me feel extremely appreciated. It definitely made me feel more valued as an employee as well, as it felt like their way of telling me that I was doing a good job and that they see me as having a long-term future with the company,’ says Jordan McSweeney.
Research shows that small (21%), medium (16%) and large (44%) Australian businesses are looking to re-train existing staff over the next three months4.
“With train and gain, it’s all in the name. Investing in the upskilling and training of your own staff will make employees feel more valued and appreciated, and is likely to increase staff retention rate,’ says Chris.
As employee satisfaction becomes more of a focus for organisations, Koenig Solutions is encouraging Australian businesses to invest in their employees and reap the rewards.
