Running a business in 2025 means navigating more than just customers and cash flow—you’ve also got to keep your team engaged, motivated, and wanting to stick around. The good news? Most employees aren’t asking for the world. They just want a fair, flexible, and meaningful place to work.
Here’s what matters most to employees in Australia right now—and some realistic ways small and medium-sized businesses can meet those expectations.
Flexible work isn’t a bonus anymore—it’s become a baseline expectation. Whether that’s working from home some days or having input on start and finish times, people want a bit more control over how they work.
A 2025 survey from Robert Half found that nearly 40% of Australian workers would turn down a job if it didn’t offer flexibility.
Source: Staffing Industry News
What you can do:
Even if you can’t offer remote work (say, in retail or trades), think about how you can offer some flexibility—like swapping shifts, compressed hours, or letting staff handle errands without clock-watching.
Wages matter—especially with the cost of living being what it is. But employees also want to understand how their pay is set, and what it takes to grow in your business.
31% of Aussie workers say a pay rise is their top priority in 2025. And for most, clear communication around pay is just as important as the dollars themselves.
Source: Robert Half Australia
What you can do:
Be open about how pay decisions are made. If you can’t increase wages right now, focus on being transparent and showing there’s a path forward.
Gone are the days when employees wore burnout like a badge. People want to do their jobs well—without it taking over their lives.
A global study by Remitly ranked Australians as the worst in the world for work-life balance.
Source: HR Leader
What you can do:
Encourage your team to take breaks, leave work on time, and unplug outside hours. Model that behaviour yourself—people follow your lead.
Ping pong tables and Friday beers are fun, but they don’t matter as much as feeling respected, supported, and part of a team.
Research from SHRM shows that people in positive workplace cultures are almost four times more likely to stay with their employer.
Source: SHRM
What you can do:
Build a culture where people feel heard. Check in regularly, thank people for their efforts, and keep communication open and honest.
Employees want to keep learning—even if they’re not climbing a corporate ladder. Growth can mean new skills, new responsibilities, or just feeling like they’re progressing.
According to AHRI, learning and development is a key tool for staff retention in 2025.
Source: AHRI Work Outlook – March 2025
What you can do:
Let team members try new things. Offer training (even if it’s informal), and give feedback that helps them improve. Investing in people keeps them around.
These days, people want to feel good about where they work. That means working for a business that’s ethical, inclusive, and doing more than just chasing profits.
Employees whose values align with their workplace are more engaged, more loyal, and more likely to recommend their employer to others.
Source: Qualtrics
What you can do:
Be clear about what your business cares about—whether that’s sustainability, community, or simply treating people well. Live those values every day.
You don’t need a big HR department or unlimited budget to offer a great place to work. What your team really wants is honesty, flexibility, fair treatment, and a sense of purpose.
Start with small steps. Listen to your staff. Keep things human. In a tight labour market, it’s often the businesses that care the most that keep the best people.