Indeed reveals the pitfalls of the 'work family' label and how it impacts recruitment
If you’ve scrolled through any job postings lately, it’s likely you’ve seen the word ‘family’ sprinkled into the occasional job description.
This ‘work family’ label is still quite commonly used by employers, usually intended to project the image of a positive and caring company culture. But for job seekers, the use of this label is quickly becoming a red flag.
According to Indeed’s talent strategy advisor Lauren Anderson, the recruitment industry has become too reliant on “marketing buzzwords and spin,” a lot of which may be having the opposite of their intended effect. The term “work family” in particular no longer carries a positive connotation, but instead suggests a culture of putting work above everything.
“When it comes to workplace connections, there are a lot of red flags for job seekers which, inadvertently, the HR industry is playing into!” Anderson tells HRD.
“When facing the challenge of building connections in the workplace, it’s important to acknowledge that the social aspect of work is changing, and so is our role as HR within that. This isn't necessarily a generational change, in so much, a societal change.”
This change is also filtering down to office-based social activities, which have long been a mainstay of Australian businesses. Anderson notes that today, more Australians want to draw a clear line between work and home – though they still believe in the positive impact of work friendships.
For businesses looking to navigate these changing expectations, Anderson says the best way to start is from a place of curiosity.
“Some great questions to explore are: Is our business genuinely motivated by building connections among employees, and if so, for what purpose?” she explains.
“Which teams or departments have strong workplace connections and what do they do differently? Are there grassroots ideas for modern workplace socialisation that have already begun in your organisation that we can learn from?”
Ultimately, connection in the workplace is still important – but it’s not necessarily the reason that a job seeker will be attracted to your organisation, nor is it the primary reason that they will stay. With this in mind, understanding the priorities of employees and job seekers could be the secret to creating more effective engagement efforts.
Indeed’s Lauren Anderson will be hosting a webinar on the “work family” myth, and how organisations can build more authentic connections. The webinar will run at 11am AEDT on 1 February 2024.
To learn more and register for the webinar, click here.
