Posted on: Wednesday August 31, 2022
Organisations are more than just bottom lines, balance sheets and business plans.
When dozens, hundreds or thousands of individuals work towards a shared goal every day, you can’t overlook the power of culture.
Broadly speaking, organisational culture (or workplace culture, company culture, etc.) refers to how people in this group interact and communicate.
To expand on that, organisational culture typically includes shared company values, leadership styles, the business’s mission, and the overall attitudes of internal stakeholders.
Strong vs. weak organisational cultures
A company’s culture can be strong (good, healthy, sturdy, etc.) or weak (poor, toxic, bad, etc.).
Consider an organisation where employees:
- Feel empowered to contribute to the discussion
- Function effectively as a team
- Are consistently recognised and rewarded for their work
- Receive good compensation and have a clear path to progression
We’d probably assume that a workplace like this has a strong organisational culture.
Now let’s consider an organisation where employees:
- Are micromanaged
- Receive compensation they feel is inadequate
- Are not encouraged to share knowledge
- Are rewarded for working unpaid overtime with an annual pizza party
We could suppose that this organisation’s culture is weak.
Of course, the most tried-and-tested method for determining the health of an organisation’s culture is through employee engagement (i.e., whether people are enthusiastic about and involved in their work).
A well-constructed employee engagement survey, along with some other key metrics, is one of the best ways to measure that.
How important is a strong organisational culture?
A happy, motivated workforce is a real asset to an organisation: if employees are giving it their all at work, they’ll be a lot more productive. In contrast, if they’re watching the clock and doing the bare minimum, productivity will suffer.
To underestimate the impact of organisational culture would be a mistake. It doesn’t matter how you spin it – put simply, a strong culture is a net plus for your business:
Improve your culture, improve your company
When your organisational culture is strong, everyone benefits. Employees are happier. The business is more profitable. Customers are more satisfied. And leaders can be confident that the people making up their organisation are united behind a single vision. In other words: it’s a win on all fronts.
Want to learn how to foster an environment where employees can thrive? Speak to a Personal Group engagement expert or subscribe to more of our blogs.
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It influences the quality of talent you can attract and keep. A 2019 Glassdoor survey revealed that 77% of job-hunting employees consider culture before even applying. When they do join, 65% cite company culture as one of the main reasons for staying in the job. And if it deteriorates, 71% start looking for jobs elsewhere.
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It keeps employees happy. And happy employees, according to a University of Warwick study, are around 12% more productive.
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It also means better work performance. A 2017 Gallup report found that highly engaged business units see a 41% reduction in absenteeism, a 17% increase in productivity and 21% greater profitability
Engaged Employees… Not the ones with rings on their fingers!
A celebration of love, overpriced flowers, and subtle disappointment when your partner buys the same card as last year. But what about love in the workplace? Not the HR-incident kind, but the kind we should all strive for: employee engagement. That elusive spark that makes employees want to give their all, not because they have to, but because they want to.
Posted on: 14 February 2025 by Lisa Hack, Head of Product
Are you Tackling the Causes Behind National Sickie Day?
The first Monday of February, often dubbed “National Sickie Day”, has gained notoriety for being the day when employee absences peak. For many organisations, it’s a wake-up call. While it might sound like a light-hearted quip, the reality is that a spike in absences can signal deeper issues within your company.
Posted on: 31 January 2025 by Zach Berwick, New Business Development Director
Salary Sacrifice Schemes: What Are They, and Why Should You Care?
Let’s face it, when you hear “salary sacrifice,” it doesn’t exactly scream “perk of the century,” does it? The term itself sounds like the HR equivalent of eating your greens – good for you, but nobody’s skipping to payroll in excitement. But here’s the twist: salary sacrifice schemes are actually a win-win for both employers and employees, and I’m here to explain why you should take them seriously – before your competitors do.
Posted on: 24 January 2025 by Lisa Hack, Head of Product
