Employers with the strongest workplace environments tend to make the most investments in workplace and employee initiatives, according to a survey by global public relations and communications firm Burson-Marsteller and global research training firm Great Place to Work.
The research offers an analysis on the perceived return-on-investment employers experience from employee investments, including employee education programs focusing on the brand's mission and values, career development programs and work-life balance programs.
While the economy remains challenging, the survey finds that respondents believe developing and maintaining a good workplace environment positively affects company performance, and workplace spending has either increased at 30 percent or remained the same at 70 percent. Another 95 percent of respondents say external and internal recognition for workplace initiatives positively influences company performance.
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"We know from previous Great Place to Work research that there is a direct relationship between those companies who are listed on all our Best Companies lists and strong financial performance," says Jose Tolovi Jr., global CEO of Great Place to Work. "This new research with Burson-Marsteller reveals that the world's leading workplaces continue to build this investment into their business planning even during challenging business climates."
Eight percent of the respondents rate strong company culture as the most important benefit of a strong workplace. Recruitment and retention are listed as the second most important benefit by 70 percent of respondents.
"While it may seem counterintuitive to make significant investments in a weak economy, these companies have reaped the substantial business benefits of having a great workplace," says Deidre H. Campbell, managing director of Burson-Marsteller. "The findings indicate that the leading workplaces in the world go above and beyond the standard suite of employee benefit programs to be competitive workplaces on talent acquisition and retention."
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