Kiwi workers more accepting than Australian counterparts

Kiwi workers more accepting than Australian counterparts

Diverse Kiwi population beneficial for workplaces

10 November 2015: New Zealand workplaces are more diverse and accepting, especially when compared to their Australian counterparts, according to a new study by HR and recruitment specialists Randstad.

The Randstad Workmonitor report (Wave 3 2015) has revealed 78% of Kiwi workers believe their company has an open and inclusive culture and 88% value diversity in the workplace. This is a stark contrast to businesses across the Tasman where the number of Australians subject to racial, gender and age discrimination in the workplace is higher than global averages.

As the first country in the world to have given women the vote, New Zealand is considered a leader in gender equality and the findings of the Randstad Workmonitor report support this. Only 16% of Kiwi workers say they have been subject to gender discrimination, a rate that is significantly lower than the global average of 21% and lower again than the 25% of Australian workers who said they had been subject to gender discrimination.

What’s more, while just 9% of Kiwi workers say they have been subject to religious discrimination, a significantly higher 16% of Australian workers say the same.

Furthermore, New Zealand is among the most tolerant when it comes to workers of different races, with just 10% of workers saying they had been subject to racial discrimination at work, compared to a huge 20% in Australia (a statistic that is 3% higher than the global average).

“It's great to see New Zealand as a place that recognises diverse cultures, which can be attributed in no small part to the steady inflow of immigrants into New Zealand for more than two-centuries. The fact that Kiwi's love to travel abroad and embrace new cultures, provides us with a competitive edge on the increasingly global employment landscape,” says Head of Client Solutions - Randstad New Zealand, Penni Hlaca.

“The results of the Randstad Workmonitor report, which shows that New Zealand workplaces are among the most diverse and inclusive globally, are simply a reflection of New Zealand culture. But the key is to not get complacent, and whilst we are stacking up well on a global scale for acceptance, we should continue to strive to set the benchmark as a country where nobody feels discriminated against.

“New Zealand has a proud history of embracing diversity. In addition to being the first country in the world to give woman the right to vote, we were also one of the first countries to allow same-sex couples to marry – something Australia is yet to implement.”

In fact, 73% of Kiwi workers believe that someone’s sexual orientation is not an issue in our country, compared to a global average of just 58% and 69% in Australia and 54% in the United States (US). Similarly, only 9% said that they had been subject to sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace, compared to a global average of 15%.

As we face the prospect of an aging New Zealand workforce, with one report finding almost one in five (17%) Kiwi workers expect to retire in their 70’s*, the Randstad Workmonitor report has found that Kiwi workers face one of the lowest rates of age discrimination. Nearly one in five (19%) of Kiwis said they had been subject to age discrimination at work, compared to a global average of 26%, 27% in Australia and 28% in the US.

“A company’s most important asset is their staff and insights provided by the Randstad Workmonitor report show that 88% of Kiwis specifically review a company’s reputation when looking for a job. In New Zealand’s tight labour market the ability to attract, inspire and retain a team of talented and skilled individuals will give companies a competitive edge,” says Hlaca.

“It is our belief at Randstad that increasingly diverse workplaces are good for business. Many experts have argued that diverse teams lead to better performance and higher employee engagement. I would strongly encourage employers to promote a diverse workforce and a company culture of acceptance for the benefit of their company.”

Global Graphs of the Randstad Workmonitor are available at http://www.randstad.com/press/research-reports

*Randstad Workmintor report (Wave 1, 2015)

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