News Roundup

Work wellbeing index

Newly released data shows people in non-office jobs are far more dissatisfied than those in office-based roles and feel forgotten about when it comes to caring for their wellbeing.

The Skills Consulting Group 2021 Work Wellbeing Index, a survey of nearly 1,500 New Zealand workers and 105 HR managers, showed that non-office workers, such as retail staff, drivers, nurses, tradespeople and teachers, have an overall wellbeing score of just 59 per cent, compared with 65 per cent for office workers.

“This is really compelling data,” says Jane Kennelly, Skills Consulting Group GM of Wellbeing. “Traditionally, programmes have addressed wellbeing overall within an organisation. For workers who do shift work or people who are always mobile and working in different locations, such as tradies for example, the delivery channel needs to be much more flexible.”

The Work Wellbeing Index is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

It will be rolled out on an annual basis, providing an in-depth look at where Kiwi businesses are at across different regions and industries around Aotearoa.

“Gathering this data will help businesses really understand where they’re at with wellbeing within their workplace and within their particular industry,” says Jane. “But it is even

more than that – by knowing what their people need as individuals, businesses can understand what is truly important to their people. And when employees are thriving, employers will enjoy the benefit of happier, more productive workers. That then flows on into a greater customer experience and, ultimately, business success. So it’s a win-win all round.”

Workplace injury prevention subsidies

Small- to medium-sized businesses in specified sectors may be eligible for a relevant workplace injury prevention subsidy.

Workplace injury prevention subsidies are available to help small- to medium-sized businesses access services and other support known to improve workplace health and safety.

The subsidies are on offer to sectors with high rates of work-related injury and death, namely manufacturing, agriculture and construction.

The three types of subsidies available are workforce capability development (eg, training courses), professional health and safety consulting advice, and capital investment that has health and safety outcomes (eg, people-moving equipment and crushprotection devices for quadbikes).

Subsidies are generally sector-specific and are likely to be targeted at sectors where workers have a higher risk of injury. The subsidies that will be offered will change over time to

meet business, sector and workplace needs. The funding amounts for each subsidy vary, depending on business size, the solution subsidised and the sector the individuals are operating in.

For more information, visit acc.co.nz

Workers' rights an important consideration for consumers

Knowing a business treats its workers fairly, “always or most of the time,” is an important factor for consumers when deciding where to shop, with 50 per cent of consumers reporting it informs their decision.

The 2020 New Zealand Consumer Survey, released in May, shows it is becoming increasingly crucial for businesses to ensure they are meeting the legal employment standards and have the appropriate systems in place to ensure worker wellbeing.

“Treating your workers well ultimately helps your brand, your business’s reputation and your bottom line,” says Tania Donaldson, Manager Employer Systems and Assurance at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Ms Donaldson says businesses should be identifying and taking steps to mitigate labour rights issues in their own businesses and throughout their supply chains and wider commercial networks.

“These steps should be taken for reasons including brand protection, meeting customer expectations, and managing trade and investment risk, as well as for legal compliance.”

According to Employment New Zealand, these steps can include creating a policy or code of conduct for your business, mapping your supply chain, seeking commitment to a supplier code of conduct or ethical sourcing policy, and conducting a risk assessment across your organisation.

Jobseekers in the driver's seat

The latest SEEK Employment Report (July 2021) shows that job advertising growth sits at a record high, while candidate availability is near record low levels.

For the fifth consecutive month, job ad growth figures in New Zealand have reached a record high. As Rob Clark, Country Manager, SEEK NZ, comments, “There are plenty of job opportunities available for jobseekers right now, with significant growth across some of our major industries and regions Businesses looking to hire should consider what they can do to secure the best talent in a competitive market.”

Data shows nearly two-thirds of Kiwis are looking for flexible hours, while more than half want flexibility with work location. “Kiwis are also keen to find a workplace that prioritises development programmes and mentoring,” says Rob.

The industries contributing the greatest volume increase to job ad growth month on month were science and technology (up 13 per cent), advertising, arts and media (up 10 per cent), and healthcare and medical (up 5 per cent). “The larger metropolitan areas of Auckland and Canterbury saw job ad growth of 2 per cent and 5 per cent respectively month on month.