Regus survey identifies respect is key to holding onto good workers

Singapore – August 10, 2011 – As Singapore’s economy stabilises following rapid growth since the global downturn, it is especially important for managers to keep job satisfaction up, so that good people do not leave for new pastures. But what do people really value in their work environment? What really makes the difference and keeps people on board? The findings from a new global Regus survey give managers some top tips about holding on to your good people.

Singapore workers declare that showing respect towards all members of staff is the most important ingredient to creating a happy business culture. In the latest survey by workplace provider Regus, over 17,000 respondents from more than 80 countries were asked what factors were most likely to help create a happy work atmosphere and 72% of Singapore workers said that respect for colleagues is the key ingredient. Encouraging skills and knowledge sharing (52%) and vocally acknowledging the work of others (44%) were voted second and third most important factors. Helping out struggling colleagues was also nominated by 42% of respondents.

William Willems, Regional Vice-President for Regus Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia comments: “With the global job market regaining strength, the results of this survey should serve as a wake-up call to managers who may be overlooking simple, practical and cost-free measures they can take to make sure that staff don’t resign.”

According to Marion Gamel, Global Marketing Director for Alexander Mann Solutions, an international outsourcing and consulting company, talent retention is a crucial issue affecting many organisations on various levels. “There are a few key ingredients to a happy workforce: earnings, job and responsibilities, career and growth prospects, colleagues and work environment. Each has a considerable impact on retention, and contrary to many people’s beliefs, earnings is not always the most important retention factor. The quality of relationship with colleagues and with a manager, the recognition one gets, the sense of belonging to a group all contribute to employees thinking twice about leaving a company.”

Kowshik Sriman, Managing Director for SAP Singapore notes “At the end of the day, workers want to be valued and appreciated. In a contemporary corporate environment like Singapore, employees often face high levels of stress on a daily basis amidst juggling their various responsibilities. Bosses must trust their workers as this goes a long way in giving them a greater sense of ownership and empowering them at the workplace.  It is easier to retain a worker who is valued and respected than one who is not.”

William Willems said: “As work pressures and hours expand further into people’s personal lives, Singapore workers are ever more aware of the importance that the character of the people they work and spend so many hours of their day with has on job satisfaction. Aside from salary increases and material bonuses, simple steps like showing respect for all staff, making a point of congratulating staff on good work and helping colleagues develop by encouraging skills and knowledge sharing contribute to creating a more human and wholesome environment that staff are not easily tempted to abandon.”

Top staff pleasersSingapore
Being respectful, even to junior members of staff72%
Encouraging knowledge and skills sharing among staff52%
Vocally acknowledging the work of others44%
Offering help to colleagues who are struggling42%

 

Top staff pleasersGlobal
Being respectful, even to junior members of staff61%
Vocally acknowledging the work of others49%
Encouraging knowledge and skills sharing among staff49%
Actively celebrating colleagues’ successes33%

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About Regus

Regus is the world’s largest provider of flexible workplaces, with products and services ranging from fully equipped offices to professional meeting rooms, business lounges and the world’s largest network of video communication studios. Regus enables people to work their way, whether it’s from home, on the road or from an office. Customers such as Google, GlaxoSmithKline, and Nokia join hundreds of thousands of growing small and medium businesses that benefit from outsourcing their office and workplace needs to Regus, allowing them to focus on their core activities.

Over 800,000 customers a day benefit from Regus facilities spread across a global footprint of 1,100 locations in 500 cities and 88 countries, which allow individuals and companies to work wherever, however and whenever they want to. Regus was founded in Brussels, Belgium in 1989, is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

For more information please visit: www.regus.com

Press contacts

Bryan Joseph
Priority Consultants
Phone: +65 6338 1006
bryan.joseph@changemandate.tech

Ashford Pritchard
Regus, Asia-Pacific
Phone: +852 2166 8768
ashford.pritchard@regus.com