An online survey of more than 100 employees has found that 65 per cent of employees believe their managers do not understand their needs, yet all respondents said that managers receive enough training on how to handle staff.
Jo Anne Collier, chief operations officer of recruitment firm Adecco, said the survey shows there is a discrepancy between the way employees and managers view their performance.
Collier said the survey indicates ongoing training is vital to ensure that managers understand their staff and guide them to greater productivity.
"For many businesses finding a balance between the company's needs and that of the employees has been a difficult task. The adoption of flexible workforces in Australia is overcoming these problems to create a win-win situation for businesses and employees," Collier said.
Collier said that in the past, some businesses would hit their busy period and expect employees to work longer or harder for no extra reward. She said employees begrudged these demands as they were forced to juggle family, social and community commitments.
"Flexible workforces do away with such conflicts by staffing the business to required levels and offering employees more accommodating working hours," Collier said.
Collier said employers should not forget that employees have commitments outside of work, and that a flexible workforce lets employees suit their lifestyle to their work and allows employers to meet the demands and fluctuations of their business.