Greek companies said to offer good work environment
The work environment at Greek companies is considered among the best in Europe, particularly on issues regarding respect for employees, the staff’s pride in the company and the management’s credibility, as data processed by the Best Workplaces competition across the continent has shown. Comparative analysis of questionnaires from 14 European countries has revealed that the work environment in Greece is seen in an especially positive light compared with the rest of Europe, while Greek employees seem to appreciate most the provisions regarding security, health, education and performance-related bonuses. The results for Greek enterprises in particular show that the work environment in Greece scored highly in three of the five main criteria of the environment at work, as analyzed by the Great Place to Work model on which the Best Workplaces competition is based. Analysis of the importance of provisions and benefits shows that women, younger employees, higher and top-level staff as well as workers at multinational corporations and in industry systematically rate higher the importance of provisions. Furthermore, data proves that there are no systematic differences in the satisfaction of employees at Greek and multinational companies, although industry workers say they are more satisfied with the provisions they receive. On the other hand, service sector workers appear to be the least satisfied. Smaller-sized companies seem to win employees over regarding flexibility, leave and holidays as well as additional provisions, such as recognition, while unfortunately, once again, women are still less satisfied with the provisions they receive. Satisfaction with provisions and benefits is significantly different among younger employees, aged to 35, who say they are less happy with the provisions they receive, and among managerial staff, who reported that provisions have them systematically more satisfied. Unfortunately it is shown that most companies do not realize the value of younger staff, who, at a more productive age, are prepared to offer much more than their more mature counterparts who naturally get more tired. Those companies would be much more competitive and productive were they to offer incentives to younger staff to perform to their greater potential. Data shows that the degree of satisfaction is affected by recognition and rewards and by provisions for flexibility and the balancing of work and a personal life. Internal training and corporate events, combined with a minimum bonus above the collective contract and the provision of group health insurance are usually the provisions offered, while additional leave for postgraduate studies and for new mothers as well as a share in profits are the provisions least frequently offered. Many companies fail to see that additional leave for postgraduate studies will also be to their own benefit; 68 percent of employees place it among the 10 most important provisions that are key to job satisfaction. The Greek Best Workplaces competition surveyed 4,199 employees at 38 companies.
