Dayforce report reveals culture challenges in Australia

Dayforce has released its 15th Annual Pulse of Talent report, examining the state of organisational culture within Australia.

The research surveyed 1,068 Australian workers and highlights the challenge organisations face in balancing a strong company culture with the need for business efficiency and agility. According to Brian Donn, Managing Director, APJ at Dayforce, "Australian organisations are in a constant balancing act between cultivating a strong culture where people can do their best work, and the needs of the business to be agile, efficient, and compliant."

The survey introduces a Workplace Culture Index, which categorises respondents into Culture Promoters, Culture Passives, and Culture Detractors. This segmentation aims to provide insight into the perceptions of company culture across different levels within organisations.

Culture Promoters, who are positive about their workplace culture, noted three key areas where their companies excelled compared to Culture Detractors.

These areas include the use of appropriate technology to support productivity, with 85% of Culture Promoters versus 46% of Culture Detractors agreeing that they had the necessary tools to work efficiently. Furthermore, Culture Promoters (55%) are more likely than Culture Detractors (28%) to believe that artificial intelligence will improve workplace culture.

Another area of concern is whether company benefits align with employee needs. A significant 82% of Culture Promoters feel that their company benefits meet their needs, compared to just 20% of Culture Detractors. Additionally, flexibility in work options is a significant factor; Culture Promoters report more flexibility in how, when, and where they work compared to Culture Detractors.

The survey also sheds light on Australians' attitudes towards artificial intelligence in the workplace.

Australians are less positive about AI than their international counterparts, with only 46% believing AI is used responsibly in their companies, compared to 49% globally. Similarly, fewer respondents felt well-informed about AI's current or future use (46% versus 51%), and only 43% saw AI as a facilitator for better decision-making, slightly lower than the global figure of 46%.

The research suggests that Australian organisations that actively educate their staff on AI's benefits and uses could enhance workplace communication and culture.

The findings underline the importance of culture in employee retention and engagement. Seventy-five percent of respondents indicated they have either declined or would decline a job offer due to an unsuitable company culture.

Enhancements in culture could lead to improved employee engagement, mental health, and motivation, according to 59%, 55%, and 46% of respondents respectively.