RESEARCH

04 Work wellbeing

A third of Australians’ waking hours are spent in the workplace and more than half of an individual’s years of life are spent at work7. With the magnitude of time an individual spends in the workplace, it is essential for leaders to create an environment that helps their workers thrive.

Our research into work wellbeing found that the most important elements of a workplace are:7

Currently, Australian workplaces are doing a reasonable job on some of these, with more than half of Australian workers (53%) believing their workplace is extremely or very effective at prioritising the wellbeing of their employees. A similar proportion (55%) see their workplace as effective in its provision of flexible working options for staff looking to reduce their hours from full-time to part-time. The area of greatest growth, however, is in providing development pathways for staff with just under half of Australian workers (46%) believing their workplace is extremely or very effective in this area.

Australia towards 2031 Mark McCrindle.

72%

Work wellbeing

65%

Relationships with peers/colleagues

60%

Collaborative work environment

60%

Flexible working hours

58%

Inspiring & accessible leadership

Athird of our waking hours are spent in the workplace and more than half our lives are spent at work. With the magnitude of time an individual spends in the workplace, it is essential for leaders in the self storage industry to create an environment that helps workers thrive.

The team at McCrindle Research recently explored health and wellbeing as part of its social research program into trends shaping the nation. What follows is our take on the most relevant aspects that self storage owners and operators should be considering in the workplace.

It’s pleasing to see that more than half of Australian workers (53%) believe their workplace is extremely or very effective at prioritising the wellbeing of their employees. The standout opportunity is in providing development pathways for staff with just under half of those surveyed (46%) believing their workplace is extremely or very effective in this area.

The hybrid workplace

The experience of work has radically shifted throughout COVID-19, with the pandemic causing the greatest

The hybrid workplace transformation to work in a century. As the global workforce continues to adopt changes brought about The experience of work has radically shifted throughout by the work from home (WFH) era, it is important to COVID-19, with the pandemic causing the greatest understand workers’ experiences and expectations for transformation to work in a century. As the global workforce how they can do their best work in the future. continues to adopt changes brought about by the work This can present a challenge for self storage from home (WFH) era, it is important to understand workers’ operators given the nature of work. Some tasks experiences and expectations for how they can do their best simply have to be done on site, but there are ways to work in the future. incorporate WFH opportunities to enable more of a hybrid workplace environment. Employing this approach When considering their ideal working conditions, three in five Australian workers (62%) see a hybrid model as their ideal arrangement, incorporating a mix of working from home and allows facility owners to intentionally use the different working environments to focus on facilitating different experiences for the worker. It is important to understand that the workplace is the workplace. One in four (25%) want everyone working from so much more than an environment where productive the workplace all the time, while just 14% see their ideal as work is done. For 70% of Australian workers, work is everyone working from home all the time.8 the place they experience meaningful and regular social connection and community. This is higher than the proportion who experience connection in their households (54%) or local neighbourhood (32%), which highlights the significance of the workplace in building meaningful social connections. To find out more, visit:

The hybrid workplace 70% The experience of work has radically shifted throughout COVID-19, with the pandemic causing the greatest of Australian workers say the transformation to work in a century. As the global workforce workplace is where they experience continues to adopt changes brought about by the work meaningful and regular social from home (WFH) era, it is important to understand workers’ connection and community experiences and expectations for how they can do their best work in the future. As leaders think about the future of the workplace it is When considering their ideal working conditions, three in five important to understand that the workplace is so much more Australian workers (62%) see a hybrid model as their ideal than an environment where productive work is done. For arrangement, incorporating a mix of working from home and 70% of Australian workers, work is the place they experience the workplace. One in four (25%) want everyone working from meaningful and regular social connection and community. the workplace all the time, while just 14% see their ideal as This is higher than the proportion who experience connection everyone working from home all the time.8 in their households (54%) or local neighbourhood (32%), highlighting the significance of the workplace in building meaningful social connections.9

The hybrid workplace 70% The experience of work has radically shifted throughout of Australian workers say the COVID-19, with the pandemic causing the greatest workplace is where they experience transformation to work in a century. As the global workforce meaningful and regular social continues to adopt changes brought about by the work connection and community from home (WFH) era, it is important to understand workers’ experiences and expectations for how they can do their best work in the future. As leaders think about the future of the workplace it is important to understand that the workplace is so much more When considering their ideal working conditions, three in five than an environment where productive work is done. For Australian workers (62%) see a hybrid model as their ideal 70% of Australian workers, work is the place they experience arrangement, incorporating a mix of working from home and meaningful and regular social connection and community. the workplace. One in four (25%) want everyone working from This is higher than the proportion who experience connection the workplace all the time, while just 14% see their ideal as in their households (54%) or local neighbourhood (32%), everyone working from home all the time.8 highlighting the significance of the workplace in building meaningful social connections.9

70%

of Australian workers say the workplace is where they experience meaningful and regular social connection and community

As leaders think about the future of the workplace it is important to understand that the workplace is so much more than an environment where productive work is done. For 70% of Australian workers, work is the place they experience meaningful and regular social connection and community. This is higher than the proportion who experience connection in their households (54%) or local neighbourhood (32%), highlighting the significance of the workplace in building meaningful social connections.9

THE FUTURE OF WORK WILL BE HYBRID THE FUTURE OF WORK WILL BE HYBRID

THE FUTURE OF WORK WILL BE HYBRID workwellbeing.com.au

25% 25% 62% 62% 14% 14%

25% 62% 14%

Australia towards 2031EVERYONE WORKING

FROM THE WORKPLACE

ALL THE TIME A HYBRID OF WORK EVERYONE

EVERYONE WORKING FROM HOME AND THE WORKING FROM

FROM THE WORKPLACE WORKPLACE HOME ALL THE TIME

ALL THE TIME A HYBRID OF WORK EVERYONE

EVERYONE WORKING FROM THE WORKPLACE FROM HOME AND THE WORKPLACE WORKING FROM HOME ALL THE TIME

ALL THE TIME A HYBRID OF WORK EVERYONE FROM HOME AND THE WORKING FROM

Publisher: McCrindle Research Pty Ltd Authors: HOME ALL THE TIMEWORKPLACE Mark McCrindle, Sophie Renton, Kevin Leung. Excerpts from the document titled:

Australian towards 2031: The demographic, consumer and behavioural trends shaping the nation. mccrindle.com.au

LEADER INSIGHT LEADER INSIGHT

The relationships that are built in the workplace are a significant part of many workers’ lives. In the current era of WFH it is The relationships that are built in the workplace are a significant part of many workers’ lives. In the current era of WFH it is LEADER INSIGHT The relationships that are built in the workplace are a significant INSIDER 124 APRIL / MAY 2022 www.selfstorage.org.au

When looking for a place of employment, these matter the most:

Chapter 5

58%

Culture and value Conditions and earnings 42%

To some work is simply a job, but to many more it's a lifeline to social interaction, purpose and a place of belonging.

KEY DESIRES FOR FUTURE CAREERS Extremely/very important KEY DESIRES FOR FUTURE CAREERS Extremely/very important KEY DESIRES FOR FUTURE CAREERS Extremely/very important KEY DESIRES FOR FUTURE CAREERS Extremely/very important KEY DESIRES FOR FUTURE CAREERS Extremely/very important KEY DESIRES FOR FUTURE CAREERSKEY DESIRES FOR FUTURE CAREERS CHANGING LEADERSHIP STYLES

Extremely/very importantExtremely/very important 1 1 1 1 1 1

L

1

Command & Control 72% having purpose and meaning in their work 72% having purpose and meaning in their work 72% having purpose and meaning in their work 72% having purpose and meaning in their work 72% having purpose and meaning in their work 72% having purpose and meaning in their work 72% having purpose and meaning in their workCollaboration & Contribution

Expectations of the future workforce

Chapter 7By 2031, 31% of the workforce will be Gen Z workers who bring a unique set of values and perspectives to their work. As a generation they are looking to The success of a leader is measured not by what they have a work experience that is for purpose, aligns with their values and has a positive impact on the world around them. The trends that are already achieve in their life, but by being seen in Gen Z are likely to continue in Gen what they set in motion. Alpha, signalling an opportunity for leaders to take steps now to prepare their business for the workforce of the future. l

2 68% work aligns with their core values 3 65% a workplace that is a community of strong social connections 64% work they do has a positive impact on the world around them

2 68% work aligns with their core values 3 65% a workplace that is a community of strong social connections 4 64% work they do has a positive impact on the world around them

2 68% work aligns with their core values 3 65% a workplace that is a community of strong social connections 4 64% work they do has a positive impact on the world around them

2 68% work aligns with their core values 3 65% a workplace that is a community of strong social connections 4 64% work they do has a positive impact on the world around them

2 68% work aligns with their core values 3 65% a workplace that is a community of strong social connections 4 64% work they do has a positive impact on the world around them

2 68% work aligns with their core values 3 65% a workplace that is a community of strong social connections 4 64% work they do has a positive impact on the world around them

68%2 THE WELLBEING TREE work aligns with their core values Those whose workplace has a commitment to staff

wellbeing are:

3 65% a workplace that is a community of strong more likely to be social connections

4working in their current workplace in 2 years 4Retention 64%Engagement Employer of choice work they do has a positive impact on the world around them

2.6x 3.1x 4.3x more likely to be engaged at work more likely to recommend their place of work to others To find out more head to www.workwellbeing.com.au

COMPETENCE

what we do

CAUSE

why we exist

CULTURE

how we do it

Chapter 6

5 5 5 5 5 5 5

64% workplace flexibility 64% workplace flexibility 64% workplace flexibility 64% workplace flexibility 64% workplace flexibility 64%64% workplace flexibilityworkplace flexibility

Fear of sedentary lifestyle

Australia towards 2031 33Australia towards 2031 33Australia towards 2031 33Australia towards 2031 33 Australia towards 2031 33 Australians are aware of the benefits of an active lifestyle with more than three in four (76%) making an effort to avoid a sedentary lifestyle. More than two thirds (64%) Australia towards 2031 33Australia towards 2031 33 believe they are doing enough exercise to stay healthy but three in five (61%) are still worried their life is too sedentary.

The active nature of work in self storage facilities could be a real benefit to your workforce and a reason for prospective employees to consider self storage as an ideal career. Consider presenting employment offerings as an opportunity to embrace an active work day.