19 Sep Workplace culture – 4 ways to help yours flourish
For businesses who recognise the link between workplace culture and productivity, what are the key considerations to be aware of?
Culture surrounds us all the time. It frames how we feel, communicate and even how we make decisions. So, it comes as no surprise that workplace culture can directly impact the productivity and efficiency of any office.
From a business perspective, workplace culture is essential in fostering a sense of pride and ownership amongst employees. Pride drives loyalty, innovation and dedication, and as such, workplace culture can be a key determiner of business success.
What defines workplace culture?
The culture of an organisation is made up of a number of environmental factors that contribute to the overall employee experience. This can include the physical work station, office opening hours, people, leadership styles, and access to technology.
Britain’s current skills shortage has meant attracting new staff has become increasingly reliant on workplace culture. Flexible hours, remote working and even gym memberships are no longer considered perks but essential benefits needed for recruiting and retaining top talent in any industry.
In addition, the ‘always on’ culture that compels us to work anytime, anywhere, even on the commute, has introduced unique pressures to today’s interconnected employee.
According to the latest International Labour Organization statistics, more than 400 million employees worldwide work 49 or more hours per week, a sizeable proportion of the near 1.8 billion total employed globally. The Trade Union Congress recently suggested that it is perhaps time to revaluate this and leverage technology to support a four-day working week.
Earlier this year we conducted a nationwide study of executives and employees to identify the working environments that encourage productivity. We found that a positive working culture is critical to business success.
So if workplace culture unlocks productivity, how can businesses encourage it?
- Commit to ethical and sustainable business practices. 71% of millennials and 71% Gen Z employees feel their organisation’s approach to ethics and sustainability positively affect their performance at work.
- Never neglect the offline world in favour of the on. Across the age-groups, collaborative, cross-team working is highly valued. Get everybody in a room and meet face-to-face.
- Reward innovation: 90% of Gen Z employees, 73% of millennials, 88% of employees aged 38-52, and 83% aged 53 and older report that incentives for innovation enhance their performance and productivity.
- Remember that ‘Good’ culture is subjective but critical. When comparing culture to workspace and technology, executives unanimously agree that strong company culture remains critical to improving employee trust (87%), motivation (83%) and wellbeing (69%) within the organisation.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to creating a positive office culture: culture depends on the needs and values of every employee. And productivity cannot be created with a great office culture alone. It must be inspired through an optimal workplace combining technology, creativity and teamwork.
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