Want to know the best way to keep your employees? Foster a company culture that focuses on their well-being. That means that you are uniquely oriented around their worth not just as employees, but also as human beings. In this article, we’ll describe some of the aspects and benefits of a positive company culture and how you can implement it at your own place of business.
Factors that Contribute to a Positive Company Culture
So how do we define a positive company culture? There are a few criteria that are essential. They boil down to physical environment, management style, and job satisfaction.
1. Physical Environment
Believe it or not, studies have shown that employees who feel comfortable in their physical environment tend to work better and be happier and more productive. This can cover a lot of different areas, but it generally means a workplace that is physically comfortable, with appropriate lighting and climate control. It also means that employees have their own physical space to work with plenty of room and organization, but also privacy to work without excessive surveillance.
2. Management Style & Leadership Practices
There are many types of management styles in the workplace, but unfortunately, it is rare to see a company that has a highly successful one. A servant management style, for example, looks at the role of manager as a server rather than an authority. This is just one style that puts employees first, but it is a good example of a successful leadership practice.
3. Job Satisfaction & Career Growth Opportunities
Employees want to feel valued by their coworkers and supervisors and recognized for their efforts. They also want the chance to move forward in their career. These two aspects ensure that you can develop a positive company culture.
The Impact of Company Culture on Employee Well-Being
Aside from the basic respect for your employees’ well-being and acknowledgement of their mental health needs, there are some real practical benefits to fostering a healthy company culture, too.
Studies have shown that a positive workplace culture results in improved job satisfaction and lower rates of employee turnover. This is largely because employees have less stress, meaning that they are less likely to experience burnout. Employees who feel respected and valued don’t want to leave their jobs — in fact, they have a vested interest in staying.
There are also real mental health benefits to working in a place where stress is lower and burnout is less likely. Employees will feel more energized, more productive, and less stressed about the consequences of using mental health resources.
The Role of Mental Health in Company Culture
You should absolutely talk about mental health in the workplace, but talking about it only goes so far. Respecting the mental health of your employees also means putting these practices into action.
Foster a company culture where employees feel safe and comfortable asking for mental health support. You can give all the talks about suicide awareness, but it means nothing if workers are afraid that their jobs are at risk if they feel suicidal.
Be respectful of employee privacy and remember that people are not working machines. They have physical and mental health needs and must have time to rest as well as work. Let them know that you care about them not just as workers but also as people and that you respect their needs beyond the scope of the job.
Success Stories of Positive Company Cultures
The effects of these kinds of changes have been significant enough to attract nationwide attention. Leaders at companies around the world have found that improving their workplace environment helps them retract and retain the top talent in their industry because of their positive culture.
Some of these companies are quite well-known. As they have implemented these changes, supervisors have noticed that employees work harder, are happier and less relaxed, and even make better sales. Work is no longer a place of stress and worry, but a place where they feel like they have a safe community.
Some companies that have made significant changes and are now considered examples of stellar workplace culture include:
- HubSpot
- Palo Alto Networks
- Workday
- Microsoft
- Chegg
- Concentrix
- RingCentral
Conclusion
Fostering a positive company culture is good for your employees in more ways than one. It helps them be happier and healthier, more satisfied with their job, and more interested in remaining in their position. It also increases productivity and reduces the likelihood of stress and burnout.
It also has a healthy effect on employers, who will also benefit from a happier workplace culture. If you are a manger or supervisor, make cultivating a positive workplace environment a priority and reap the rewards!
Patrick Bailey is a professional writer, mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and mental health world and enjoys writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them. @Pat_Bailey80
Company culture stock photo by fizkes/Shutterstock
