Posted on October 1, 2018 by Anthony Mortimer

Change Company Culture and Transform Employee Morale

A workplace is not a room filled with chairs, desks, and temperamental air conditioning – it’s people. We all know about Jan’s nephew’s christening and the infamous story of Tom’s lost shoe. It’s not just workers… it’s a community of unique individuals – and in order to live in harmony and create the best output, we listen to each other. We laugh at Leon’s fish tank joke, even though we already heard it twice last week, and we enquire when Tina with the witch’s cackle is unusually quiet. It’s about communication, recognition, support, and engagement.

The changing landscape

It’s no secret that this revelation is worlds away from the traditional way of managing employees. But, employees are changing, so is the workforce… and so too must human resources. By 2025, millennials will make up 75% of the working population, and 79% of them say that fun is an important workplace factor that makes them work harder[i]. So in future, don’t be surprised if an interviewee asks about your policy on beanbag chairs and office Frisbee tournaments. Just remember, engaging and motivating both current and future workforces is all about one thing… your company culture.

What is your company culture?

A company culture defines an organisation’s relationship with its employees. It is the behavioural guidelines that drive the business forward in a positive way. And, it’s the way in which a company engages its staff, who then go on to provide better service to clients and customers. So, where do you start? What is the basis of your culture? Well, typically a corporate culture will have its foundation in the company values, but there are many must-have aspects that need consideration. For example, respect, care, and inclusiveness need to form part of your new approach. As do communication, trust, and recognition. Only by making these characteristics part of your culture will you enable employees to share ideas, stay engaged with their tasks, and motivated to achieve the best results.

The benefits of this corporate culture

So… your new culture is in place and your employees feel valued, engaged, and happy. But what does this mean for you and your business? Well, studies have shown that employee productivity increases by 12% when your staff are happy[ii], and moments of conversation between co-workers have been reported to increase performance by 20%[iii]. But that’s not all. Failure to adopt a modern company culture for a modern world can have equally negative effects – increased stress is responsible for up to a 50% increase in voluntary turnover rate[iv]. So, to make sure you have a culture that maintains happy and productive workers, simply download our latest tip sheet…

12 employee recognition ideas to improve company culture

[i] https://blog.zef.fi/en/10-steps-to-healthy-company-culture

[ii] https://blog.zef.fi/en/10-steps-to-healthy-company-culture

[iii] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/collaboration-heightening-engagement-performance-pauline-triggiani/

[iv] https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2017/11/01/10-workplace-trends-youll-see-in-2018/#7c650d714bf2