NEWS
BRIEFING Keep up to date with the latest news surrounding the role of the EA
Could your exec be showing more empathy ?
Human capital management software company Dayforce has released the results of its latest Pulse of Talent report , revealing that Australian employees are feeling the stress of rapid change and more aggressive performance goals – and that empathy from leadership is a cost-effective , and often overlooked , productivity lever within an organisation . The report showed :
w Stress amongst Aussies is high : 64 % say more aggressive performance goals / targets have increased stress levels . When employees didn ’ t reach performance goals , 43 % said it caused them to lose motivation . w Burnout and flight risk remain big concerns : 87 % said they experienced burnout in the previous 12 months , nearly the same level for three years running . Only 32 % believe their employer has a good understanding of their level of burnout . w Trust is lacking : 62 % say they trust their employers , and only 60 % say their employers trust their employees .
More than half of Australian respondents ( 53 % – more than the global average ) agreed that their organisation empathises with employees . Among those who disagreed , 90 % said having leaders show more empathy would make a positive difference in their work life because it would :
w Improve job satisfaction ( 47 %) w Improve job performance ( 34 %) w Increase productivity ( 38 %) w Improve mental health / levels of burnout ( 47 %) w Boost loyalty ( 41 %).
“ Employers are caught in a balancing act between a need for increased efficiencies to stay competitive in the market while safeguarding employee wellbeing and trust ”
“ Employers are caught in a balancing act between a need for increased efficiencies to stay competitive in the market while safeguarding employee wellbeing and trust , which has been in flux since the pandemic ,” comments Katie Meyers , VP global talent management and development at Dayforce . “ The good news is that tools and initiatives are readily available to help both sides of this equation meet the challenges of an ever-changing workplace and a boundless workforce .”
The survey found 88 % of Australians approved of upgrading workplace technology , with 71 % saying new tech investments have increased their productivity in the past year – and 40 % reporting these have decreased their stress . In addition , 56 % of respondents think AI can improve their productivity at work and 80 % were at least slightly interested in their employer using AI to recommend new internal career and skills development opportunities . S
16 Executive PA | Winter Issue 2024