Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative – Tasmanian workplace practices

Many Tasmanian organisations are adopting innovative practices to attract, retain and motive their staff through approaches which meet the needs of both employee and employer.

· A financial services provider rewards and recognises its staff on a monthly basis at a morning tea whereby individual employees are recognised for their efforts across a range of spectrums and gifted with an appropriate reward.

· A restaurateur took his full time staff to Melbourne for an all expenses paid trip in thanks and recognition of their dedication and hard work over the 6 week Christmas New Year period. NB a hairdressing salon owner has been doing the same thing for five years, with no turnover during that period.

· A regional manufacturing firm provides a petrol allowance for those living a long way away and one Friday afternoon per month off for an employer funded BBQ and beers.

· Two businesses less than three years old, one in the IT industry and the other in the administrative sector, provide both share options and profit sharing to new employees in an effort to both differentiate from larger, established businesses but also to create loyalty and productivity through vested interest.

· A number of organisations provide the three days between Christmas and New Year as leave in lieu of work well done (in addition to standard annual leave).

· A statewide financial services organisation employs final year finance or accounting undergraduates, contributes to their fees and provides extensive study leave with the view of providing relevant experience to students as well as securing graduates with experience into the future.

· A not for profit association offers a nine day fortnight (as full time) to employees who are able to complete the required 76 hours productively during flexible work arrangements.

· A business in the IT sector provides its employees with their birthdays as a leave day.

· A community welfare organisation offers its employees three half days per year to go to a child’s sporting or cultural event or attend another community event.

· A number of organisations sponsor a corporate team in a sporting fixture or event or support their staff in a charity event like Movember, Relay for Life or World’s Greatest Shave.

While these approaches may seem simple enough, all organisations report that these innovative practices have provided them an edge in both recruitment and retention as well and employee loyalty and satisfaction.

what are your thoughts?