Thousands of New Zealanders eyeing a move to Australia for better pay are being urged to look closely at workplace culture before accepting a job.

New research reveals Australian firms often lag behind New Zealand counterparts in fairness, safety, and inclusivity.

The Great Place To Work Study, based on feedback from over 156,000 employees, found that typical Kiwi workplaces rate higher than Australian ones on key cultural markers.

Just 73% of Aussie workers believe their workplace is fair regardless of race, compared to 76% in New Zealand.

The figure jumps to 93% at certified workplaces that actively invest in inclusivity.

The study also shows job security concerns are more common across the ditch, with only 58% of Australian workers confident redundancies are a last resort.

Workplace safety lags too—only 51% of Aussie employees say their workplace is emotionally healthy, and just 78% feel physically safe, compared to 81% in New Zealand.

Rebecca Moulynox, General Manager of Great Place To Work, says workplace culture should be a top consideration for anyone relocating.

“While financial incentives may be tempting, money doesn’t compensate for feeling undervalued or excluded,” she says.

Rebecca Moulynox, General Manager of Great Place To Work.

She encourages Kiwis to look for employers certified as a ‘Great Place To Work,’ as these typically perform 35% better than non-certified ones in Australia.

“These organisations build cultures of trust, inclusion and growth—and that directly improves job satisfaction and retention,” says Moulynox.

The takeaway for Coasties considering a move?

Do your research.

A positive workplace culture can make all the difference when settling into life across the Tasman.

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