UK 
United States
The organisational culture, which encompasses values and behaviours that make up a unique workplace environment, is important.
Maintaining a healthy corporate culture will allow businesses to reap the benefits of employee engagement and productivity, staff retention and higher output, and, ultimately, better commercial success. Particularly when a business is trying to navigate a turbulent time, having full employee buy-in and support from staff is crucial to surviving. And a good corporate culture is essential to achieving that as is shown by the stats. 94% of executives and 88% of employees believe that a distinct workplace culture is the key to business success, according to Deloitte research. In addition, research from CultureIQ found that employees’ ratings of company qualities – including work environment, value alignment and mission – are 20% higher at firms with strong company cultures.
Change | 3 simple steps to better corporate culture
Ever since the coronavirus pandemic hit – and organisations were forced into remote working at Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s request – HR teams have been tasked with maintaining the same corporate culture within remote teams which is no easy task. In a physical office environment, employers such as Google and Facebook can offer food on site, open-plan office space and operate competitive surroundings that foster personal growth. But this isn’t as easy to achieve when the workforce is working remotely. HR departments have already tailored some of their existing perks so that they are more virtual-friendly and accessible from home. But, to what extent is the coronavirus pandemic currently impacting company culture?
According to Rebekah Wallis, Ricoh UK’s Director of People and Corporate Responsibility, at this stage, it is difficult to determine the sustainable impact that the coronavirus pandemic will have on corporate culture in either medium or long-term. “What is certain, however, is the ability of an organisation to respond quickly during a crisis, especially one where there are initially more questions than answers, is a testament to the culture of the organisation. Businesses who were able to react in a timely, efficient and effective manner are the organisations with a culture based on creating a long-term sustainable perspective with employees at the centre,” she told HR Grapevine. Additionally, Ricoh’s UK HR lead added that those organisations that have prioritised employee engagement, empowerment and innovation “were able to adapt promptly because they would have had the trust and support of their employees”.
