Wellbeing important to Kiwi companies

New Zealand Diversity Survey

Wellbeing important to Kiwi companies, but bullying and harassment still growing

Kiwi companies rank wellbeing as a top priority, according to the latest New Zealand Diversity Survey results, but incidents of bullying and harassment are continuing to climb.

The survey, which was initiated in 2013 to create a better understanding of the key diversity challenges facing New Zealand organisations, is carried out twice a year by Diversity Works (formerly the EEO Trust).

Wellbeing and flexibility were identified as the two most important diversity issues for New Zealand organisations – findings that were consistent across small, medium and large companies.

Despite the emphasis on wellbeing, the latest survey also saw almost a third (31.5%) of respondents reporting incidents of bullying or harassment in their organisation in the past 12 months.

The percentage of respondents reporting incidents of bullying or harassment has continued to climb, with the previous three survey results trending upwards from 24% to 26% to 27%.

Diversity Works Chief Executive Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie says companies need to take these findings seriously and examine their own organisational culture and policies.

“Organisations have a responsibility to protect their employees from bullying and harassment. Apart from the personal cost for individuals, bullying also comes with a huge cost for the business because the fall-out is higher stress levels and lower productivity, and higher absenteeism and turnover.”

Cassidy-Mackenzie says the survey findings show nearly 60% of organisations now have a formal policy in place to address bullying and harassment and just over 40% of organisations have a wellbeing programme or initiative in place.

“Organisations are definitely taking steps to protect their employees and promote their wellbeing but there is room to improve.”

The three top wellbeing challenges that organisations face, according to the survey, are employee health (physical and mental health), stress and work-life balance.

ENDS

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