Building a People-First Organisation
Have you ever considered how building a People First Organisation could revolutionise and propel your workplace toward unprecedented growth and success?
Recognising and appreciating your team members isn’t just a nice to have; it’s essential for cultivating a vibrant workplace culture.
Creating a Workplace Where People Thrive:
Our People-First Approach
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the importance of building a people-first organisation cannot be overstated. When team members feel appreciated and recognised by their leaders, their loyalty and commitment often increase, and they also experience a significant boost in productivity and job satisfaction. This, in turn, positively impacts your talent retention and acquisition.
At Integris Group Services, we have always prioritised our people, including their health and wellbeing, and have focused on providing flexibility that is crucial to building a supportive and thriving work environment. This commitment is not just a policy but a core principle that we live and breathe every day.
We want our team members to feel how important they are to us, as well as feeling secure and cared for.
The Foundation of Building a People-First Organisation
When I founded Integris Group Services, I was determined to create an organisation where people felt valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their full potential. This vision wasn’t just a business strategy; it remains deeply personal to me even today – born from my own journey of overcoming significant challenges. Through these experiences, I came to understand the transformative power of a nurturing and supportive workplace environment in fostering resilience and harnessing our people to achieve success.
Our core values—Honesty, Integrity, Conviction, Action, and Sensitivity—form the bedrock of this people-first approach. These principles are the foundation upon which our organisation stands. They guide every decision we make and ensure our people-first approach remains core to our ways of working.
Embracing a People-First Culture
with Balanced Work-Life Dynamics
1. Flexible Working Arrangements
One of the key elements of building people-first organisation is our commitment to flexible working arrangements. We understand that work-life balance is essential for our team members’ wellbeing and productivity.
Whilst we remain focused on achieving outcomes and delivering for our clients at time suitable to them, wherever possible, we have shifted away from fixed business hours and rigid work schedules.
This approach aligns with the reality of modern work demands and is in strong demand, particularly here in Victoria, Australia, after the necessity for remote working during the pandemic. We believe that true flexibility is crucial for attracting and retaining the best talent.
2. Generous Leave Policies and Family Support
We are proud to provide our team with additional cultural leave days throughout the year in addition to the current public holidays. We also extend the standard holiday period by providing Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve paid days off, freeing up annual leave to be used at other times.
Shutting down over the holiday period also ensures our team has a good break and time every year to spend with their nearest and dearest.
3. Supportive Policies and a Culture of Trust
At Integris Group Services, we understand that creating a supportive work environment goes beyond offering flexibility. We genuinely care about our team and their families, actively responding to their needs and working together to implement well-being programs.
By fostering a workplace where team members know their thoughts, ideas, and contributions are valued and their feedback is genuinely considered, we find that collaboration comes naturally, and their insights are shared whenever opportunities arise.
This supportive and caring approach establishes a virtuous cycle, where team members contribute to creating the support from which we all benefit and promote professional growth and development. Our culture of trust is equally important. We believe in empowering our team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions autonomously.
This trust is built through working closely together to develop our capability and confidence in ourselves, ensuring every conversation is safe, promoting open and honest communication at all times, and truly wanting the best for each member of our team.
4. Open-Door Policy: Transparent Communication
Our open-door policy encourages team members to share concerns and feedback freely, breaking down barriers and promoting inclusivity. By regularly updating team members on company developments, we build trust and engagement, ensuring everyone feels valued and informed.
Transparency eliminates uncertainty, helping team members understand their roles and how they contribute to the company’s goals. During challenging times, honest communication is crucial for maintaining trust and stability. This approach leads to higher employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity.
Our commitment to transparent communication reflects our core values of integrity and openness, creating a balanced work-life dynamic that prioritises well-being and development. Together, we can build a culture where transparency enriches both our work and lives.
5. Professional Development
We offer continuous learning opportunities and career advancement programs to keep our team members motivated and engaged. This includes workshops and online courses.
We also encourage a culture of mentorship and coaching, pairing experienced leaders with emerging talent to support personal and professional growth. These initiatives help our team members feel valued and supported, enhancing job satisfaction and retention.
By investing in our team’s development, we drive innovation and excellence within our organisation, reflecting our commitment to a balanced work-life dynamic that prioritises well-being and advancement.
6. Workload Management
We regularly assess and adjust workloads to ensure team members are not overburdened, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
We also implement tools and systems that streamline processes and reduce unnecessary stress. These measures help our team work more efficiently, preventing burnout and improving overall well-being.
By managing workloads proactively, we create a supportive environment where team members can thrive. This approach underscores our commitment to fostering a balanced work-life dynamic that prioritises the health and satisfaction of our team.
The Benefits of a People-First Culture
There are numerous advantages to prioritising and building a people-first organisation. For example, our flexible and supportive approach has naturally led to better engagement with our team, stronger collaboration, and fast-tracked team cohesion. This has led to higher quality outcomes internally and for our clients, as well as an open level of loyalty.
Moreover, it has enhanced our ability to attract and retain the right people, as more and more of our workers are increasingly seeking workplaces that align with their values and provide a healthy work-life balance.
To delve deeper into these benefits, here are some specific ways of building a people-first organisation can transform an organisation:
Implementing a people-first approach not only benefits team members but also drives the overall success of the organisation.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to grow and evolve, our commitment to a people-first culture remains front and centre. We are constantly exploring new ways to enable fresh wellbeing initiatives and foster a culture of trust and inclusivity.
By doing so, we aim to create an environment where every team member continues to feel valued and empowered to contribute their best.
At Integris Group Services, we believe a people-first approach should be the norm across all workplaces. Different types of organisations can benefit from prioritising health, wellbeing, and flexibility through improved employee engagement, stronger collaboration, and higher quality outcomes.
By adopting these principles, we believe businesses can build a more engaged and loyal workforce, leading to sustainable success and a more positive work environment.
A people-first culture is not just the right thing to do; it’s a strategic move that drives long-term benefits for both employees and organisations.
Discover how you can implement a people-first approach in your workplace.
Together, let’s build a more engaged, loyal, and successful workforce.