The Benefit of Implementing a Positive Workplace Culture

As employers, we strive to provide the best for our employees’ job satisfaction – this is often in part achieved through workplace initiatives such as flexible working arrangements, health and wellbeing and staff benefits programs. Organisations also need to be aware that workplace culture does not remain within the four walls of the office. With the increased popularity of social media, a positive (or negative) working environment can easily be shared en masse, which can affect stakeholders’ perceptions of your organisation. At Morrows we aim to create a flexible and welcoming work environment so everyone can successfully thrive.

How Important is Workplace Culture?

A positive workplace culture defines the essence of your organisation – highlighting its character and personality. Furthermore, it attracts talent, drives engagement, impacts happiness and satisfaction and in turn, increases performance.

More often than not, most of us let our workplace culture form naturally, rarely stepping in to correct negative behaviours and unfavourable values. Here at Morrows, we believe it is essential to take an active role in implementing a workplace culture:

Leading by Example

The formal policies and actions of your senior team need to be uniform and transparent and most importantly, reflect your company’s values. Leading by example is the best way to share your organisation’s values and encourage similar behaviours. Show your employees that you and your senior team embody your company values. These values should act as a guiding principal for all that you do. By acting from the top down, your behaviour will eventually lead the way forward in setting a positive and healthy workplace culture.

It’s also important to make sure that employees know how their work contributes toward company goals and strategic objectives. Everyone, no matter where they are in their career, wants to feel that the work that they are doing is important to the organisation. This can be achieved through not just communicating with employees about overall strategy, but also having employee goals aligned with the larger goals of your organisation, so that everyone can see how they’re contributing. Frequent communication goes a long way in ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards a common objective.

Promoting a Supportive Work Environment

A supportive work environment is essential when encouraging a positive workplace culture. As employers, we need to facilitate an environment where employees work together and build each other up.

These days, many companies adopt an open-door policy which encourages employees to discuss their concerns freely with their managers. This helps to reinforce that employers do care about the problems employees face, and that care extends to employees’ problems and lives outside of 9 – 5. In a supportive work environment, managers and supervisors are encouraged to have regular team and one on one meetings, which recognise and appreciate every member’s hard work. In the long term, this lays the foundation for a healthy environment where open communication plays an integral part.

Providing flexibility to employees with their hours and days of work is often a great first step in providing support to your team members who are juggling commitments between work and family. By providing these – an organisation is able to increase employee satisfaction and increase staff retainment, allowing you to hold onto talent who might previously have departed your organisation otherwise. Employee support can also come in other forms, such as employee assistance programs, where all employees are able to access free and confidential counselling services.

Keep in mind implementing a workplace culture is not easy; it takes time but if we start setting the right foundations today, we will set the tone for future.

To learn more how you can improve your business’ company culture, please reach out to our Morrows Human Resources team.