Great Place to Work’s annual research about the best organisation's to work for, both in Australia and overseas, is based on data from more than 10 million employees in 50 countries representing about 6,000 organisations of varying sizes, industries, maturity and structures. Their 2017 '50 Best Places To Work' report about Australian businesses illustrates that 'being a great workplace is no longer seen as ‘nice to have’; today it is imperative to business vitality and success.' What their research proves, is that your business can be a great workplace, one that your employess love coming to and participating in — and become more successful as a result. Here we look at Great Place to Work's metrics to understand the standard that defines a great workplace.
It would be easy to rattle off aanother list of bullet points that outline essetntial requirements. However, Great Place to Work's 2017 report states it clearly and simply:
'Having a culture of trust benefits the organisation at every level; employees are more innovative, creative, loyal, demonstrate respect, and genuinely care about each other and the company.'
But how, exactly do you go about creating an organisation that cultivates trust in a manner that results in employees being willing to nominate your business as a 'great place to work?'
According to the research, great workplaces are built through the day-to-day relationships that employees experience — not a checklist of programmes and benefits. It isn’t what the companies are doing, it is how their leaders are doing it. Ultimately, the key factor in common in workplace relationships and interactions is trust.
The most trusted source for rigorous research on trust in business, is Edelman. Edelman have been conducting their annual research on trust and publishing their trust barometer report for almost 2 decades. Their annual trust survey evaluates the trust of participants in institutions, credible sources/channels and on specific issues and perceptions impacting trust in business and government.
Based on their 2017 results, Edleman reveals 'that trust is in crisis around the world. The general population’s trust in all four key institutions — business, government, NGOs, and media — has declined broadly, a phenomenon not reported since Edelman began tracking trust among this segment in 2012.'
Offering a bullet pointed list, Great Place to Work's research indicates that from the Employee’s perspective, a great workplace is one where they:
Trust the people they work for;
Have pride in what they do; and
Enjoy the people they work with.
Make no mistakes, trust is the defining principle of great workplace. Trust is created through management’s credibility, the respect with which employees feel they are treated, and the extent to which employees expect to be treated fairly. The degree of pride and levels of authentic connection and camaraderie employees feel with one are additional essential components.
From the Manager’s perspective, a great workplace is one where they:
Achieve organisational objectives;
Work with employees who give their personal best; and
Work together as a team / family in an environment of trust.
There are nine ways – or practice areas – where leaders and managers create an environment of trust. This fundamental model, confirmed by Great Place to Work through over 25 years worth of analysis of employees’ own opinions, is universal and consistent year-over-year, country-to-country. It applies not only to all organisations but to companies with diverse employee demographics.
Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman's, recently outlined five measures that organisations large and small need to take to transform the global breakdown in trust.
Of course, not all of these points are relevant to all businesses. SME's can't necessarily afford to engage PR. However, all businesses, no matter how large or small, can operate in a manner that is transparent and ethical - both internally and externally.
Interested in learning more about how to build trust in your business? We've got a free guide for you, just click on the button below.