Kiwis Would Rather WFH Than Be Promoted! 😧

I’ve been getting into MAFs for the first time this year. For those who don’t know MAFs, it’s Married at First Sight. I am in the camp of people who need to abbreviate, that’s how much I find myself talking about it. I assure you I watch it as earnestly and as unironically as possible. I like how the relationships unfold, what’s interesting is every time they show their name, they also state their occupation. One of the contestants is a Recruitment Manager which beggars’ belief as they are super non-confrontational with an insatiable desire to be liked. That armchair psychologist summary is exactly why I watch it. Diagnosing social disorders while I inhale a box of Scorched Almond's. Fear not for those already tuning out, this week's topic isn’t centred on MAFs, it’s one of TV Three’s lesser-watched shows, the News. In particular, a segment about what Kiwis are looking for in the workplace.

I don’t know if this is an outdated term in Recruitment, but I’ve always referred to them as ‘hot buttons’, the drivers that are important to candidates. I find they often fall into about 5 categories: money, flexibility, progression, culture, and location. I tend to get candidates to rank them in order of preference which usually sees money and culture jostling for the top spot. In the throes of Covid ‘security’ found a place in the top 5 but has since dropped from the charts perpetually floating around the 6th spot. This was mainly anecdotal data I'd experienced firsthand when dealing with recruiters. However, those good fellas over at Randstad dusted off their clogs, pounded the pavement, and recently published the Workmonitor 2024 report. For those that don’t know, the report provides an in-depth analysis of emerging labour market trends, worker attitudes, and the future of employment based on a comprehensive global survey.  What it discovered was quite revealing, it found that…

“Employees across New Zealand are putting more premium on getting flexibility rather than climbing the corporate ladder."

That’s pretty jarring, no? Of the 1000 Kiwis surveyed only 42% of employees consider career ambition as important, right behind getting mental health support (86%) and flexible working hours (82%). To quote directly from the source – “86% of employees said that flexible work is important while 51% said working from home is a non-negotiable for them.” To think that advancing in one's career has taken a backseat to being able to work from home. It’s something that has been suspected, but having the thoughts of 1000 kiwis on record adds legitimacy, as well as concern. It’s very much a symptom of the time. I find what people look for now is this idea of numerous revenue streams. Not having all your eggs in one basket or should I say giving your full arse in one place but half arse or quarter arse a bunch of different things. This is where the consultative bit of our title comes in. It would be best if you were telling your clients that perhaps wheeling out the org chart isn’t going to land as strongly as they think. Rather, it’s the flexibility policy that will get the attention of interviewees and perhaps be the answer to retaining staff.   

It’s interesting to see where people's heads are at and how it could impact the future. Richard Kennedy, country director of Randstad, Kopite, and all-around good dude, said employers should prepare for a talent and leadership gap. "As workers redefine the meaning of ambition and retreat from the corporate grind, organizations will have their work cut out for them." Accurately warning of the challenges employers face in ensuring productivity and maintaining organisational culture in a dispersed environment. I should add that Kiwis aren’t completely checked out, or at least that 1000 of them. They still desire self-improvement, with 77% saying training and development opportunities are still important. Flexibility is a bit of a grey area, which bowl of porridge is just right? One day at home? Two? Three? It’s hard to say and more case by case if anything.

I think it’s worth acknowledging that 1000 out of 5 million people aren’t going to give anything too definitive. However, it’s an insight and one that impacts our way of work significantly from a personal and professional perspective. If I can provide some advice to employees in our industry, turn up to work. It may seem a little obvious but it’s something I hear from clients when they are describing an employee who is doing all the right things. “They want to be in the office” is highlighted as a huge positive and something that's very achievable. It’s an appreciated quality to have and as we can see from the data, something that the majority of people are lacking.