GO Rentals has put its staff’s wellbeing front and center in 2023.

The company asked its approximately 110 employees in New Zealand and eight branches nationwide what they wanted from the business and acted on their responses. The changes they made from this input are already paying off with:

• An 8% staff turnover rate

• 91% staff engagement rate

• Most staff returning after COVID

“We think it is important to understand from the ground up what employees need to be happy in their work environment, and then work to provide it for them and it’s paying off: we have that low turnover rate, and a 91% engagement rate, and staff tell us what they like most about working for us is the supportive family feel they get from the company,” says Helen Osborne, the car rental company’s Head of People and Talent.

Osborne says the company surveys staff four times a year about things like: What would make them keep working for the company and what new benefits should be. In its most recent survey, well-being emerged as a key issue.

The company responded to these concerns by implementing perks aimed at employee wellbeing, including:

• $200 GO Health Checks for health and wellbeing memberships, GP visits or sports activities

• Flexible work schedules where possible]

• Working from home two days of the week

• Medical insurance for all part-time or full-time staff

• Long Service Leave bonuses

• EAP services, including access to fully qualified psychologists and EAP counseling services

• Wellbeing programs

• Nutritional advice

• Paid time off on their birthday

GO Rentals also began offering financial advice through its partnership with BNZ.

‘’Our vision is to provide an environment where we put our people first, where staff can flourish, feel valued, learn and develop long-term careers and are rewarded along the way,” Osborne says. “We understand the ongoing diverse needs of our staff from both a mental and emotional standpoint. 2023 is the largest focus we have ever had in increasing benefits and rewards provided to our wonderful and hardworking GO employees.’’

Alternative approaches to organizational behaviors and environments are key in maintaining a healthy level of emotional and mental balance within the workplace, Osborne stressed. 

Research supports this sentiment. high workloads, poor work/life balance and stressful work are the top three causes of poor mental health at work, according to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.