Workplace culture matters to employees, survey says

Recently, we asked 50 employers to describe their workplace culture in three words.

The unscientific results were overwhelmingly positive.

Words like collaborative, compassionate, flexible, supportive, and fun were mentioned repeatedly. Other descriptors, such as people-oriented, personable, and empathetic, point to the considerable efforts today’s employers are making to create and sustain healthy environments for employees.

Cultures change over time and are impacted by many factors. Many leaders are still reporting cultural challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some organizations have not yet landed on a successful pattern of hybrid and remote work. Some workplaces have become more siloed and struggle to find an effective formula that balances business and employee needs. Other organizations report that their employees are overstretched, burned out, and disconnected, which is far from an ideal situation.

While an old-school philosophy contends that employee happiness should not be an employer’s priority, leaders who prioritize a culture that supports employees’ happiness and well-being can be highly beneficial. Unfortunately, American workers are not among the happiest in the world to begin with.

According to Gallup’s annual “World Happiness Report,” Finland ranks at the top of the list for the ninth year in a row with other Nordic countries taking five of the six top slots. America moved in the wrong direction from the 17th to the 23rd happiest country in this year’s report. The drop largely is attributed to declining evaluations by young adults.

Clearly, there’s ample room for improvement. Employers who want to remain competitive in the continuous war for talent need to make deliberate efforts to understand the evolving needs of the workforce.

Fortunately, workplace culture initiatives consistently deliver a measurable return on investment. From morale and retention to productivity and sales, a positive culture will boost your organizational results.

While there are no quick, easy, or universal steps to build a culture where engaged employees thrive, there are some key ingredients and vital components. And, because each of our workplaces is unique, you’ll have the opportunity to experiment a bit and see what works best given your industry, size, geographic location, leadership style, and market conditions.

While HR Source conducted our three-word culture survey in a live setting with a group of employers from many industries, you can easily replicate the culture quiz in several different ways at your own organization.

Use a survey app like Survey Monkey or Menti-Meter — or go old school with a flip chart and markers. If you’re not already collecting employee feedback on a regular basis, consider an employee engagement survey to gain insight into your culture and what changes could be made to make meaningful contributions to your employees’ happiness — and your bottom line.

• Mary Lynn Fayoumi is president and CEO of HR Source in Downers Grove.