Co-workers the key to work happiness

Friends, not money, is the key motivating factor in the workplace, according to findings from a Robert Half Finance & Accounting survey.

More than a third (40 per cent) of New Zealand employees surveyed said a good relationship with managers and co-workers was their prime motivating factor at work.

Only 17 per cent of workers rated salary as their main motivator. The type of work (17 per cent) and flexible hours (13 per cent) were next on their list of key motivators. New Zealand women were twice as likely as men to be motivated by salary - 23 per cent said salary was a key motivator compared with 10 per cent of men.

Almost half (42 per cent) of the sample said people were more competitive in the workplace than they used to be because of a slowing economy, fear of job losses and re-organisation within companies.

Kim Smith, New Zealand manager of Robert Half Finance & Accounting, said this was further proof to managers that efforts needed to go into nurturing happy employee relationships.

High salaries and lucrative perks were not necessarily the best way to keep employees happy in their work.

Good working relationships were vital to creating a happy working atmosphere and maintaining motivation and high productivity.

Smith said the survey results demonstrated that employers needed to think strategically about the kinds of working environments they created.