If someone works continuously from age 22 to 60, for 8 hours a day and 5 days a week, they would have dedicated 79,040 hours to work—that’s one-third of their life just spent working.
Thus, choosing the right work environment is as crucial as finding a life partner. Committing to an unhealthy work relationship that doesn’t align with our values can significantly affect our physical and mental health over time. In fact, globally, depression and anxiety at work lead to the loss of an estimated 12 billion workdays each year.
So, how can we discern whether a work environment is a "red flag" or a "green flag"?
Four Elements Of A Healthy Work Culture
Trust And Safety
A healthy environment allows employees to comfortably express their opinions, even if they are different from their supervisors. This sense of safety and trust also encourages employees to propose new ideas, address concerns, and own up to mistakes.
How does a business foster trust and safety for its employees?
- Trust in leadership: Employees believe in their leaders' competence, communication skills, and sincerity.
- Respect: Employees feel respected in both their professional and personal lives.
- Fairness: Everyone is perceived to have equal opportunities for growth and success.
Sense of Belonging
Employees experience a sense of belonging when they are accepted and appreciated by their colleagues and organizations for their uniqueness. This acceptance ensures that they can remain true to their own identities in a safe environment.
A sense of belonging is fostered through daily interactions. However, if a disconnection occurs, it can lead to feelings of instability and fear, adversely affecting employees' performance, stifling their creativity and ability to collaborate.
Career Development Opportunities
It’s essential for employees to continually enhance their skills and knowledge to stay abreast of the rapidly evolving technological landscape. Companies that offer professional training to help employees advance their technical skills and career growth are definitely waving a "green flag."
Furthermore, businesses should provide opportunities for employees to acquire new skills that enable them to expand their careers horizontally, not just vertically.
Promoting Work-Life Harmony
The modern workforce places a high value on the harmony between one's work and personal life. The rat race model of all-consuming dedication to work has become outdated, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led people to value their current lives more deeply.
Consequently, many organizations now support hybrid working arrangements to provide employees with the flexibility to manage their personal and family life. This approach not only enhances job satisfaction but also contributes to overall happiness and well-being in employees' professional and personal lives.
A Case Study From NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam
Owned by the National Australia Bank (NAB), with a legacy spanning over 170 years, the NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam was founded in 2019. Its mission is to connect Vietnam's tech talent to NAB and provide innovative digital experiences to more than 10 million NAB customers.
Since its inception, the NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam has established its footprint in major cities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In 2023, it was recognized a "Great Place to Work" and a "Fast Enterprise."
In 2024, the Centre continued to gain recognition, receiving the "Best Company to Work for in Asia 2024" at the HR Asia Awards, and the "Corporate Excellence" award at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards 2024 held on October 3rd.
What has enabled NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam, a relatively new player in the Vietnamese market, to garner such significant workplace accolades in just five years?
For the most insightful answers, let’s turn to the voices of NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam’s employees in the Faces of NAB video series.
"Faces of NAB" features a collection of short videos that bring to life the authentic stories of those working at the Centre, from the human resources department to project management and product development.
Hanh Le, a Senior Associate in the Employer Branding department and one of the series' featured individuals, shares her transformative decision to relocate from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. She made the move to join NAB, where she has been flourishing for the past four years.
Ella Nguyen, Project Management Officer of the Home Ownership Domain, reveals that NAB empowered her to develop skills she had long aspired to master but never previously had the chance. This opportunity is a key factor that fuels her enthusiasm and commitment to excel at work every day.
For Tony Phan - Product Owner in the Merchant Services department, his path into tech, even without a formal degree in IT, is also a great example of the ample opportunities that NAB offers for young professionals to thrive.
Discover the elements that make NAB Innovation Centre Vietnam one of the "Best Places to Work," as told through the experiences of their colleagues on Linkedin and Facebook