A vast majority of Indian employees believe that showing respect toward all staff members

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is the most important ingredient for creating a healthy business culture at a company and eventually helps in retention of critical manpower, says a survey.

According to a survey by workplace provider Regus among over 17,000 respondents from more than 80 countries, 66 per cent of the Indian employees surveyed said that respect for colleagues is the key to creating a happy work atmosphere.

Encouraging skills and knowledge-sharing (51 per cent) and vocally acknowledging the work of others (44 per cent) were voted the second and third-most important factors, respectively, by Indian employees for fostering a good work environment.

Furthermore, actively celebrating colleagues' success was also nominated by 36 per cent of Indian respondents as important for ensuring a healthy business culture.

"After the April to June appraisal season, workers typically weigh up what lies ahead of them and consider their work situation. The results of this survey should serve as a wake-up call to managers who may be overlooking simple, practical and cost-free measures they can take to make sure that staff don't resign...," Regus Regional Vice-President (South Asia) Madhusudan Thakur said.

"... As work pressures and hours expand further into people's personal lives, Indian workers are ever more aware of the importance that the character of the people they work and spend so many hours of their day with has on job satisfaction," he added.

Thakur further said, "Aside from salary increases and material bonuses, simple steps like showing respect for all staff, making a point of congratulating staff on good work and helping colleagues develop by encouraging skills and knowledge sharing contribute to creating a more human and wholesome environment that staff are not easily tempted to abandon."

Regus said the constant drive to attain a better lifestyle is pushing Indian employees to consider hunting for better paying jobs. This makes it especially important for managers to keep job satisfaction up in these dynamic times.

Globally, 61 per cent of the respondents surveyed said that being respectful, even to junior members of staff, was the most pertinent thing for creating a good business environment.

Furthermore, 49 per cent of the employees surveyed worldwide said vocally acknowledging the work of other colleagues is important, while another 49 per cent believe that encouraging knowledge and skill-sharing among staff also contributes to a wholesome work environment.