The way we work, what we do, and why we do it is constantly evolving. Therefore, to keep up, organizations must intentionally and continually be building new systems and structures that address both the human needs and the organizational outcomes. For employers to be able to keep up in workplace culture, they need keep up with the ever-changing future of global corporations—and what today’s employees want. There are many ways that this can be accomplished. Most organizations certainly don’t need to offer them all, but there are relatively simple changes that can certainly be incorporated easily to be not only more competitive but more attractive to prospective employees.
REMOTE WORK
First of all, employers can offer remote and hybrid work. I think many of us saw that we can work remotely, and be successful. In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 5.7 percent of working Americans were working from home. But that percentage grew to 17.9 percent in just two years, reflecting an increase of almost nineteen million workers.¹ Europe saw, depending on the country, similar numbers, usually doubling the percentage from pre-COVID numbers.² Western Europe and the United States saw that not only could we work from home, but we could also teach our children from home. Many students “attended” school virtually, and this allowed our teachers to work remotely. I don’t think any of us ever expected our kids to attend school virtually unless we were thinking about The Jetsons, but for a short period, we made it work. We not only educated our children, but we allowed our employees the option that they needed to work from home. Remote work allowed flexibility, contributing to that work-life balance.
MENTAL WELL-BEING
Another way in which companies can evolve towards the future is by promoting wellness and mental health support. I think now more than ever, employers are seeing that their workers need mental health support. A majority of employees said they are struggling with mental health or behavioral health issues. Furthermore, almost 100 percent of those struggling reported that they feel that they are less productive due to their mental health/behavioral issues, with almost half of them reporting a productivity loss of more than five hours a week.³ By promoting employee well-being and addressing mental health concerns, offering resources, and encouraging work-life balance, employers can foster a positive workplace culture.
FLEX THOSE BENEFITS
Offering a wide range of flexible benefits is another way that an employer can develop their employees into the future. Providing a variety of benefits to employees that meet their diverse needs will no doubt improve the workplace culture. Offering an opportunity for a flexible schedule, childcare support, and more, allows the employee to feel like a part of an organization that they can continue to grow with.
WHAT’S YOUR PURPOSE?
Employers need to provide the opportunity for purpose-driven work and align the organization’s mission and values with meaningful work that engages their employees. We cannot simply sit back on their laurels and say, “I’ve got a good culture.” We must constantly be working on it. A positive corporate culture doesn’t happen by accident. A positively cultured workplace comes together by bringing in thoughtful ideas and values.
To remain relevant, competitive, and ethical, organizations need to adapt and evolve their workplace cultures to meet the ever-evolving needs and expectations of their stakeholders. A dynamic workplace culture allows companies to respond effectively to new technologies and market trends. The world and workplace environments are in a constant state of change, and this is a win for employees everywhere.
¹https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-05-18/how-the-covid-pandemic-impacted-working-from-home#:~:text=The%20share%20of%20the%20American,Americans%20were%20working%20from%20home
²https://www.europeandatajournalism.eu/cp_data_news/remote-work-in-europe-before-and-after-the-pandemic/.
³https://www.onemedical.com/mediacenter/study-finds-although-64-of-employees-are-struggling-with-their-mental-health-only-19-used-their-companys-mental-health-benefits-last-year/#:~:text=Employees’%20poor%20mental%20health%20is,than%205%20hours%20a%20week.