Workplace Culture is a description of how people behave at work together. Whether this is in Australia or some other place around the world, the culture of a Workplace obviously depends on what sort of workplace it is! Workplace Culture in a hospital, for example, is going to be very different from a remote livestock farm or an inner city courier firm. 

Is Australian work culture very different from anywhere else in the world? This depends on comparing apples with apples and bananas with bananas. A backpacker or Pacific Islander on a temporary working visa at a fruit orchard in country Victoria might not see eye to eye with a description of workplace culture in a tech start-up in Sydney. Notwithstanding the huge differences between one workplace and another within Australia, we will here try and describe some cultural attributes that could be said to belong to many Australian workplaces.

What is workplace culture?

Workplace culture is a term used to try and describe the sorts of behavior typical of a particular workplace. Is there an obvious hierarchy or is the workplace relatively egalitarian? Is the workplace small or part of a much larger organization? Is it a private business, a non-profit, or a government department? 

When trying to define a particular workplace culture, the comparison is between similar workplaces in different places, such as a comparison between Australian and U.S., British or European workplaces which are similar. This is important for anyone who is migrating from one country to another or even changing their job. They want to know how they behave when they take on their new job. Will they feel immediately comfortable or should they take time to understand how to relate to their new bosses or work colleagues?

What is good workplace culture?

Good workplace culture depends to a large extent on the type of workplace and the people who work there. Most Australian workplaces place a high value on punctuality, work ethic, ability to co-operate, respect for fellow workers, and proficiency at the job, but this list would be hardly dissimilar to many other places around the world. Do Australians view a good workplace any differently from other places around the world? If they do, it is probably because of the specific social culture that has developed in Australia that has affected the way people relate to each other on an everyday basis together with the history of workplace labor relationships in Australia.

Obviously, what is regarded as a “good” workplace culture is very much a personal opinion. Decent pay, protection against exploitation, a healthy work environment, good employee/employer communication, team spirit, and an understanding that the employee has a life after work may all be seen as part of good workplace culture in Australia, but not all workplaces live up to this ideal.

How is Australian work culture different from others?

Australian work culture is a little different from many other wealthy parts of the world. Most people who migrate to Australia from similar socio-economic environments fit in easily. Australians tend to be somewhat less formal than people from some other countries. For example, first names tend to be used quite readily, even between employees and their bosses. Many Australian businesses and even government departments will arrange informal ways of relaxing as long as it doesn’t interfere with normal work hours. A barbecue at work on Friday after work washed down with a beer or two is not uncommon.

While qualifications are important and often essential, work experience and an ability to learn on the job may also be regarded as valuable. 

Many Australian workplaces have protections in place which limits the number of hours that can be worked, or protect the right of workers to have time off for their family and leisure time. It’s not uncommon for Australians to take time off work and go exploring their own country in a campervan or four-wheel drive before returning to work. This is not regarded as something unusual. Obviously, the pandemic has had an enormous effect on Australian workplaces as they have done elsewhere in the world.

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