Survey shows workplace culture crucial to jobseekers

A survey of jobseekers in the UK has found that a workplace culture that is inclusive and respectful is something they consider particularly crucial.

Nearly 3,000 people who are looking for a job took part in this survey, which was conducted by the CharityJob board. They were asked to name the five things they regard as the most important when choosing whether or not to apply for vacancies. In response, 72% of them said an organisational culture that values inclusivity and respect was a decisive factor. This adds up to nearly three quarters of the respondents.

Fostering such a culture is the responsibility of HR, so this demonstrates once again how vital that is to organisations. Even small firms with tighter budgets cannot afford to neglect culture-building if they want to attract the best people. Hiring an employee relations consultant in Hertfordshire can be a cost-effective way to develop the policies and processes needed to improve their cultures.

Evelin Zauchner of the Signature Recruitment consultancy told HR Magazine that this work was about the behaviour of managers as well as written policies:

“People pay attention to whether their ideas are genuinely listened to, whether managers trust them with autonomy, and whether opportunities to progress are open and transparent.”

She went on to add that job interviews are where people often get their first ideas about the culture of an organisation. Therefore, HR needs to make sure those interviews are well-structured and provide room for effective two-way communication.

Open communication was another of the five factors cited, alongside job security.