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Simon Parker
Agency staff said arrogant agents, outdated IT equipment and poorly designed offices are more important than salary when it came to deciding whether to leave a company, new research has revealed.
In research conducted by real estate recruitment specialists Buckmaster Hawkey, the state of the office and its culture often proved the deciding factor on whether employees decided to make a move or stay put.
The research conducted across a broad range of Melbourne-based industry staff in May found that many began to think about a new job after working in the same position for two to three years.
“We expected the research to show that decisions to look for a new job would be mostly influenced by pay and career progression,” said Buckmaster Hawkey director, Jeanette Hockney.
“What we found was that factors associated with the working environment were the most influential.”
“It was interesting for us to see the role that systems and IT played” Ms Hockney continued.
“A relatively low salary or a poor office culture can set the stage, but outdated IT and phone equipment convinces many that their employer doesn’t really value them.”
The research also found that the treatment of property managers and administrative staff by sales agents can spark a search for a new job. Many reported that a poor attitude by sales reps towards other staff was affecting the enjoyment of their work.
Buckmaster Hawkey’s findings come shortly after a Real Estate Business straw poll revealed just over one in five (20.6 per cent) respondents witnessed regular conflict between sales and property management teams. Another 16 per cent said conflict occurred 'only sometimes'.
“The interesting thing for me was the connection between these findings” Ms Hockney said.
“Real estate staff are looking for respect at their workplace and view outdated equipment as a signal that it’s not really there.”
“Given the scarcity of qualified and experienced property staff, ensuring a real estate office has up to date technology may prove to be a great investment for agency directors.”
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