Why Company Culture Matters
Following an experiment using comedy and snacks, the University of Warwick’s Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy concluded that happiness makes people 12% more productive at work while unhappy workers are 10% less productive. What’s more, companies with happy employees are said to outperform the competition by 20%. However, despite this evidence, research consultancy Gallup has found that just 13% of employees are engaged globally. Company culture matters, and the ability to engage employees effectively is a valuable asset for any organization. You don’t have to look far to see the impact that actively disengaged employees can have on an organization.
Employer and consumer brands are intrinsically linked, and if perception is poor internally, the wider repercussions on the external brand can be catastrophic. Just look at the momentum behind the #DeleteUber hashtag following the company’s apparent support of Trump’s policies. It couldn’t have helped that the brand was already negatively perceived in the public consciousness with its business model viewed by many as a race to the bottom in terms of wages and workers’ rights. Conversely, much of equity of the U.K’s retail giant, John Lewis brand is tied up in its approach to employment – where colleagues are partners in the business rather than mere employees.
Company culture must be nurtured
Good reputations are hard to gain and easy to lose, which is why company culture must be nurtured with care. A myriad of evidence suggests that today’s workforces are driven by more than just a hefty pay packet. In order to attract the best talent, an organization must promote its values and HR policies through social media using its own people as its greatest advocates. People work to live, not live to work, which is why incentives such as flexible working and the opportunity to up-skill and innovate should not be underestimated. Google’s 20% time programme for example, where employees only have to spend 80% of their working hours on company business, will have done nothing to deter applications.
Crucially though, a culture which has been promoted externally must be reflected in reality when a new starter lands in an organization. Attracting talent is one thing, but retaining it is quite another. High Turnover Cost Way More Than You Think. Low turnover rates are certainly good for business.
Company culture cannot be ignored
While the correlation between staff engagement, productivity and an organization’s bottom line are well documented, the relationship is arguably most acute within finance teams. It’s the Finance professionals and Accountants that are on the front line of a company’s performance, and those who buy into their company’s values and ethos go the extra mile to make decisions which are in the best interests of the organization. It’s Finance who live and breathe your brand who will be the ones spotting trends and identifying new revenue streams – not the disengaged number crunchers who are going through the motions. At a time when employment rates are high and competition for talent is fierce, the importance of company culture cannot be ignored.
