Better workplaces inspire better companies

Better workplaces inspire better companies

While the credit crunch is clearing out some workplaces, other companies are finding their staff can improve their situation. Oasis Engineering and Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI) have proved that a better workplace leads to improved profitability.

In the Better Workplaces awards just announced Oasis Engineering won the “Most improved small workplace” sponsored by Bizzone and Hospitality Standards Institute the “Most improved small-medium workplace”, also sponsored by Bizzone. To qualify for an award at least 60% of staff had to respond to the Better Workplaces survey and at least 20 employees had to participate.

Managing Director of Oasis Engineering Andy Cameron says since his company started benchmarking for the awards sales have doubled, productivity improved 75% and profitability was up 30%. He is also delighted that all 22 of his staff responded to the Better Workplaces survey.

Steve Hanrahan, CEO HSI, says as a result of the award system their service rating among customers improved 12 percentage points and staff retention has been much better. An independently-run focus group helped the company focus on 10 key areas that resulted in better leadership development, staff resources and communication.

“Since the survey was implemented our staff are happier and communicating more effectively, I’m thrilled for all the team that we have won this award,” he says.

Sarah Trotman, head of Bizzone, a business support specialist company and organiser of the Bizzone Business Expo and Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards, said she was thrilled to see the vast improvements companies had made in their workplaces this year.

“Small and medium businesses are only as good as the staff and directors who run them,” she says “A good workplace will usually translate to a well-run business and that means a profitable business.

“Small and medium enterprises are the lifeblood of New Zealand – 96% of the country’s businesses are classed as an SME and there are 300,000 SMEs generating almost 40% of the economy’s output. If all of these SMEs put time and effort into creating better workplaces and directors keep growing their businesses then they are less likely to avoid the disasters we are currently seeing with many of the world’s large financial institutions.”

Bizzone, 29th on this year’s Fast50 ratings also achieved a carboNZero rating after a 100% commitment to sustainability from staff and contractors.

“A good workplace today does not just mean desks and chairs but how the workplace sits in the total environment,” Sarah Trotman says. “We are delighted to see through this survey that so many New Zealand companies are really working to improve their workplaces in every sense of the word.”

Finalists for the categories above included Colliers International New Zealand, Fujifilm NZ, Hospitality Standards Institute, Oasis Engineering, National Mini Storage and Novartis New Zealand. The overall winner for the Better Workplaces Award was Southern Cross Travel Insurance.

ENDS

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