Incentive&Motivation Magazine Autumn 2017 | Page 4

Facts About Great Places To Work What do great workplaces do that set them apart from the average? How do they create cultures which attract and retain talent, that is committed to helping deliver the organisation’s goals? We spoke to the research, consulting & training agency, Great Place To Work, about common themes in great workplaces.  reat workplaces are built on trust which drives G engagement. Best Workplaces™ have trust levels of 86% compared to just 55% at the average workplace. How does this impact engagement? 82% of employees in Best Workplaces™ say they want to stay with their employer for a long time, compared to just 57% of employees at average workplaces. Culture is an organisation’s greatest sustainable competitive advantage; many Best Workplaces™ say their success is because of it. 89% of employees at Best Workplaces™ say they have a great culture compared to only 52% at the average organisation. Research 1 shows a direct link between organisational culture and financial performance. The relationship an employee has with their manager is critical; great workplaces tend to have better managers. A staggering 90% of employees at Best Workplaces™ say they trust their line manager compared to just 59% in the average organisation. Being recognised and thanked for what you do is a key motivator. 84% of employees at Best Workplaces™ say management shows appreciation for good work and extra effort, compared to just 49% at the average organisation. At Hilton, they hold a ‘Team Member Appreciation Week’ every year which kicks off with an email from the President and CEO thanking everyone for what they do, with lots of competitions, treats and events. But showing appreciation doesn’t have to cost – it is often too easy to overlook those two simple words – ‘Thank You’.  ork/life balance continues to grow in W importance. 89% of employees in our Best Workplaces™ say they are encouraged to balance their work and personal lives, compared to only 48% of employees at the average workplace. More employers recognise the impact of finance on people’s wellbeing. Support ranges from the basics such as pensions and health plans to more personalised and innovative schemes including debt advice, cheap loans that have a small savings element built into the repayments and financial support for working carers. Camaraderie at work is more important than you might think. People who enjoy working together are more likely to be collaborative and innovative. KFC have regular Yammer campaigns such as ‘Selfie Saturday’ and ‘Epic Weekender’ where employees share what they are up to during the weekend and photos of their family and friends. This enriches the ‘family feel’ and helps people get to know each other better. Guiso, Luigi and Sapienza, Paola and Zingales, Luigi, The Value of Corporate Culure, September 2013 1 04 | www.incentiveandmotivation.com